A motion by a lawmaker, Benedict Etanabene, representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie federal constituency in Delta State, summon President Bola Tinubu before the House created a rowdy session in the green chamber on Wednesday.
Legislators disagreed over the motion with different sides arguing for and against such a move.
Etanabene, had during plenary, raised a point of privilege to draw the attention of the house to a June 29 circular issued by Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, the accountant-general of the federation.
In the memo, Ogunjimi directed all federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to immediately stop processing payments for constituency and zonal intervention projects (ZIPs) unless they have been formally vetted by the ministry of special duties and intergovernmental affairs.
Etanabene urged the house to summon the president to address lawmakers on the delay in implementing the 2025 budget, adding that the circular would further hamper the execution of the Appropriation Act.
He argued that the circular amounted to an additional bureaucratic hurdle not contemplated in the Appropriation Act and warned that it could further delay the execution of the budget.
Etanabene therefore urged the House to invite President Tinubu to explain the slow pace of budget implementation and the rationale behind the directive, insisting that the executive owed Nigerians and the National Assembly an explanation.
His request, however, sparked sharp reactions on the floor, with some lawmakers opposing the proposal to summon the President, while others supported the move, leading to a rowdy session.
The heated exchanges briefly disrupted proceedings as members shouted across the chamber over the propriety of inviting the President to appear before the House on the matter.
(Ripples)