The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has stated that the Green Chamber does not require President Bola Tinubu to appear before lawmakers to address growing concerns surrounding the implementation of the national budget. Agbese made these remarks while addressing journalists in Abuja, seeking to clear up the controversy that followed a recent rowdy House session where some lawmakers aggressively pushed for the President to be summoned to explain issues relating to budget execution, with a particular focus on constituency projects.
The lawmaker, who represents the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State under the platform of the Labour Party, maintained that the officials directly tasked with managing and executing the budget should be held accountable instead of the President. According to him, cabinet ministers, heads of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, alongside officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, are in the absolute best position to provide granular explanations on how approved public funds are being spent and why certain local projects may be experiencing administrative delays.
Agbese explained that the House does not need the President to appear before it to resolve these specific budget-related issues. He noted that the relevant ministers and the Office of the Accountant-General are the appropriate authorities to answer the questions members are raising because they are the ones directly involved in the day-to-day execution of the budget.
His clarifying comments come days after a heated debate erupted on the floor of the House during a plenary session. The legislative disagreement followed a motion moved by an Abia State lawmaker, Representative Mascot Ikwechegh, who sought to have President Tinubu invited to address the lawmakers directly on widespread concerns surrounding the execution of the national budget. The proposal sparked sharp divisions among the members, with some lawmakers strongly supporting the invitation while others vehemently opposed it.
During that tense session, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen ruled against the portion of the motion calling for the President's appearance. The Speaker stated that the prayer seeking the President’s presence was not contained in the original legislative document submitted before the plenary, telling the sponsor that it represented a complete deviation from the copy that had been officially handed over.
Reacting to the development, Agbese defended the Speaker’s handling of the rowdy proceedings, describing his conduct as highly responsible and entirely in line with established parliamentary rules. He said Abbas demonstrated exceptional leadership, total impartiality, and a strong commitment to protecting the institutional integrity of the House despite the tense atmosphere that characterized the debate. He praised the Speaker for handling the proceedings with calmness and fairness.
Agbese further stressed that the National Assembly already possesses robust constitutional powers to investigate public expenditure and monitor the implementation of approved budgets. He assured the public that lawmakers would continue to exercise their oversight responsibilities rigorously by engaging the specific government officials and agencies tasked with implementing the projects captured in the budget.
The lawmaker urged Nigerians not to interpret the House’s oversight activities through a partisan political lens, insisting that members remain focused on ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of public funds. According to him, lawmakers are determined to ensure that funds appropriated for constituency projects and other vital government programmes are properly utilized for the direct benefit of ordinary citizens.
Agbese also dismissed suggestions from some quarters that the House should suspend its planned National Assembly Open Week programme, which is scheduled to begin on July 14. He said the initiative has become an important annual platform for strengthening public engagement and improving the populace's understanding of legislative activities. The lawmaker noted that members would actively participate in the event despite the ongoing debates surrounding budget implementation and oversight issues, concluding that while things are critical, members will never abdicate their primary responsibility of lawmaking for any personal or political grievances.
