Reps fault FG’s suspension of zonal intervention projects

The legislative activities of the House of Representatives on Wednesday turned rowdy as aggrieved parliamentarians protested against the suspension of the Zonal Intervention Fund/Constituency Projects in the Appropriation Act.

The controversial motion was moved by Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwecheg, who decried poor funding and delay in the release of appropriated public funds for critical sectors of the economy, including security.

After overwhelming support of the motion, which was greeted by rousing applause from majority of members across party lines, the lawmakers who supported e motion shouted down some of the lawmakers who opposed the motion.

ALSO READ: FG’s new agreement implementation delay sparks anxiety among poly lecturers

Hon. Ikwecheg argued that “the powers of appropriation in the National Assembly, and that the credibility of the budget rests not only on the size of the figures appropriated, but on the fidelity, timeliness with which appropriation funds are released, cash-backed, and utilized for ministries, departments, and agencies.

“The House also notes that during the 2026 budget defence sessions, honourable Ministers and heads of MDA disclosed deeply troubling levels of funding of 2025 budget, including sectors that recorded zero capital releases for the entire fiscal year, and others that received only a token, a fraction of their appropriated capital votes.

“The House is aware that these disclosures are consistent with repeated protests staged in 2025 and early 2026 by indigenous contractors of Nigeria that have invested heavily to do business with the Nigerian government at the Federal Ministry of Finance and at the gates of the National Assembly; on one occasion, disrupting plenary sittings because due to unpaid certificates for completed and verified projects with many contractors unable to service bank loans obtained to execute government projects.

“The House is also aware that His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, at the Federal Executive Council of 10th December, 2025 expressed grave displeasure at the backlog, directed the immediate settlement of verified contractor liabilities of about N1.5 trillion and constituted an inter-Ministerial Committee to harmonize records and deliver a lasting funding solution, declaring his readiness of the government to even borrow when necessary to settled verified obligations.

“The House is further aware that directive of the National Assembly approved the borrowing in excess of N1 trillion specifically to finance the settlement of outstanding obligations on completed and verified capital projects, in addition to dedicated provisions in the 2026 Appropriation Act for contractor liabilities, while the Honourable Minister for Finance have announced the clearance of substantial sums announcements, which contractors dispute as partial announcements.”

He also expressed concern that, notwithstanding the clear directive of Mr President, the legislative approvals and the ministerial assurances released to MDAs remain slow, if I may say nonexistent, stalling critical projects, escalating contract costs, exposing contractors to insolvency, and rising non-performing loans and eroding public trust in the budget of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, approved by this Parliament.

“The House is disturbed by recent newspaper reportage of a federal treasury circular dated 29th June, 2026 issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, halting payments for zonal intervention and constituency projects, unless a certificate of verification and compliance is first obtained from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, a directive which however well-intentioned, introduces yet another layer of bureaucratic bottlenecks at the very moment Mr. President has demanded speed and risks turning back the hands of the clock by subjecting duly appropriated, procured, and executed projects to further delay.

“Accordingly, the House resolves to commend first Mr. President for his directive on the immediate settlement of the verified contractor liabilities, and urge his full, faithful, and speedy implementation by Fiscal authorities, and we also want to urge the President, as a father of the nation, to make out time, since we have invited Ministers, invited Security Chiefs, invited different members of the Economic Council to come here and explain to us why the budget is not being implemented.”

After the rowdy session, the Speaker ruled on the motion submitted by Hon. Ikwecheg which urged Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget Office of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and Central Bank of Nigeria to prioritise the timely release and cash backing of appropriated funds, publish a clear schedule of releases for the 2026 fiscal year, and conclude the verification and settlement of all outstanding contractor liabilities within a defined and publicly communicated timeframe.

He also called on fiscal authorities to apply the proceeds of the borrowing in excess of N1 trillion approved by the National Assembly strictly and expeditiously to the settlement of outstanding capital project obligations, and to render an account of such application to the National Assembly.

He further urged Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to urgently review the Federal Treasury Circular of 29 June 2026 and harmonise it with the directive of Mr President, by prescribing strict and short timelines for the issuance of the Certificate of Verification and Compliance, so that an accountability measure is not converted into an instrument of further delay, and invite the Accountant General of the Federation and the Honourable Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs to brief the relevant Committees on the circular.

After the adoption of the motion, the Speaker ruled that the House will constitute an Ad-hoc Committee that will interface with the relevant fiscal authorities on the state of releases, the settlement of contractor liabilities and the utilisation of approved borrowings, and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action, comprising the Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, as Chairman, and the following as Members: the Chief Whip of the House; the Minority Whip; the Chairman, Committee on Finance; the Chairman, Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management; the Chairman, Committee on Budget and National Planning; the Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts; the Chairman, Committee on Constituency Projects; and any other Members.

He maintained that the issue of summoning the President, as included in the debate of Hon. Ikwecheg, could not be adopted by the House, noting that such action is unparliamentary.

Meanwhile, the Speaker had earlier ruled that the motion on Personal Observation raised by Hon. Ben Etanabene noted that the House and will accordingly be acted on based on the House Rules.

Speaking earlier, Hon. Etanabene, who cited relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including Sections 4, 88, and 89, and the House Rules, frowned at the circular and the revised guidelines for effective implementation of zonal intervention and constituency projects, calling for their immediate suspension.

While frowning at the breach of the budgetary provisions which are contained in the budget signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, urged the House to test the Constitution by inviting the President to address the Parliament.

He said, “I wish, Mr. Speaker, that the Constitution be tested. I want to urge this House to agree that we summon Mr. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, together with his financial team, to please come to this House in line with the provisions of the Constitution to brief Nigerians on exactly what is happening, because the stories are not complimentary at all.

“We cannot explain to the constituents what is happening. Today, we collect money. We will not be able to give a proper explanation for it. The budgets are not being implemented. Presently, in Nigeria today, we are implementing 24, 25, and 26 budgets running concurrently. This is not in the best interest of everybody.

“So, Mr. Speaker, I wish to move the motion that this House, you know, invite Mr. President to come in the soonest to brief this House to explain and make us know why the need, you know, for this circular that has been released.“