NASS Update: Tinubu's Call, Terrorist Rehabilitation Issues, Xenophobia, and More from the House of Reps

The House of Representatives started work again this week after a three-week break to celebrate the third year of the 10th National Assembly. This assembly was inaugurated on 13 June 2023.

When they returned, lawmakers faced a busy agenda. They focused on oversight, debated the budget, called for public accountability, and discussed national security and the welfare of Nigerians living abroad.

Rowdy Session Over Tinubu's Summons
Things got heated on Wednesday when a motion was raised to summon President Bola Tinubu. The aim was to explain the poor implementation of the 2025 budget. Alex Ikwechegh (APGA, Aba North and South) brought up the motion, saying there were big delays in releasing funds.

Ikwechegh pointed out that many ministries and agencies had not received their capital funds. The motion praised President Tinubu for his efforts to settle verified debts but also called for him to come explain why funds had not improved security and infrastructure.

During the debates, some lawmakers felt the president needed to be invited because he is responsible for budget implementation. Others argued that the House should talk to the ministers and heads of agencies in charge instead. The disagreement led to a loud session, and Speaker Abbas Tajudeen had to step in. He reminded members to stick to the approved motions and not introduce new ones without following the rules.

Accountant-General and MDAs Summoned
On Wednesday, the House Committee on Public Accounts summoned the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, and six MDAs. They are to appear on Monday, 13 July, after failing to answer audit queries.

Lawmakers are worried that the absence of key accounting officials is making it hard for the National Assembly to check public spending. The committee chairman, Bamidele Salam, stated that they had sent many letters to the Accountant-General's office for documents and invitations. He added that many requests went unanswered or got poor responses. The committee warned that ignoring legislative invitations is a serious issue and that agencies must comply or face consequences.

Investigation into ₦1.3 Billion Allocation
The House has begun looking into a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 budget for the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The federal government has called this agency non-existent.

This investigation started after reports revealed that the supposed agency had a budget allocation, opened government bank accounts, and operated from the Federal Secretariat, even though it was never legally set up. The decision followed a motion sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau) on Wednesday. Gagdi warned that this incident shows serious problems in the budget process and raised fears that other fake agencies might have also slipped into previous budgets.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu also disclosed that he unknowingly got involved in this situation. He explained during the plenary that his office had received a letter dated 2 May 2025 from a group claiming to be both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the PFIPC. The letter looked official, making his team think the organization was real. Kalu denied any links to the suspects and promised to cooperate with security agencies.

House Calls to Halt Rehabilitation of Terrorists
The House passed a motion asking the federal government to stop the rehabilitation of former insurgents. This decision came after a motion from Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos) aimed at cutting the financial networks that support kidnapping and terrorism.

Lawmakers said many victims are still displaced and suffering without proper support. They found it hard to justify helping former fighters. Some expressed worry that some rehabilitated ex-fighters have returned to crime, questioning how effective the rehabilitation programs are. The House urged the government to focus on justice for victims and redirect resources to help affected communities.

Xenophobia Concerns
On Thursday, the House adopted a motion asking the federal government to summon the South African High Commissioner. This was in response to new xenophobic attacks and the killing of Nigerians in South Africa.

The motion, sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi, condemned the ongoing violence, unlawful arrests, extrajudicial killings, and harassment of Nigerians in South Africa. Lawmakers urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take stronger diplomatic actions to ensure the safety of Nigerians and seek justice for victims.