Uncertainty has surrounded the House of Representatives’ plenary scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, 2025, following the Federal Government’s failure to meet its contractual obligations to local contractors who executed projects under the 2024 and 2025 budget cycles.
This comes a week after the Green Chamber held a closed-door session with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi; and the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, during which lawmakers criticised the implementation of the capital components of the two budgets.
Over the past two months, local contractors have staged peaceful demonstrations at the National Assembly Complex, demanding payment for completed projects. Despite the House leadership setting up an intervention committee, the stalemate persists.
On December 9, the House resolved that it would not consider the 2026 Appropriation Bill once transmitted by President Bola Tinubu until the Federal Government clears all outstanding debts owed to the contractors. The lawmakers also stepped down consideration of 42 bills slated for first, second, and third readings.
Four committee reports on bills proposing agricultural colleges and specialised institutions in Kaduna, Edo, and other states were likewise deferred.
The planned consideration of the constitution review report submitted two weeks earlier was also suspended.
In what appeared to be a last-minute attempt to avert a legislative standoff, Ogunjimi pledged to clear the outstanding payments within 48 hours. However, the deadline elapsed on Friday without contractors receiving any payment—an outcome that could significantly shape Tuesday’s plenary.
Speaking to our correspondent , a member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency of Edo State, Billy Osawaru, expressed disappointment that the pledge was not fulfilled but noted that lawmakers were still expecting action from the executive.
“Promise made has not been met, but we are continuing our engagement with the executive arm,” Osawaru said.
Asked whether the House would make good its threat to halt consideration of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, Osawaru said the situation remained unpredictable.
“I am not sure what the outcome will be since we are still expecting the Accountant-General to act,” he added.
Similarly, Mansur Soro, who represents Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, confirmed that contractors were yet to be paid.
“The pledge has not been kept,” Soro stated, adding that, “further engagement between House and executive should be confirmed by the House spokesman or its leadership.”
Efforts to obtain an official position from the House through its spokespersons, Akin Rotimi and Philip Agbese, were unsuccessful, as both lawmakers did not respond to inquiries
The Federal Government’s delayed payment to local contractors traces back to persistent budget implementation challenges in the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.
The Member, representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Hon. Chris Nkwonta, has enjoined his Constituents and Nigerians, to imbibe the virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness, hope, patience, humility and love for humanity as exemplified by Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the real essence of Easter Celebration.
In a statement personally signed by the Legislator, he called on his Constituents and the Christian Community in Nigeria to demonstrate Christ-like virtues of love for humanity, hope for a better future, peaceful and harmonious disposition in their dealings with one another for a United Ukwa Federal Constituency and indeed Nigeria, where brotherly love reigns amongst Citizens.
He maintained that despite the prevailing temporary economic difficulties; there is light at the end of the tunnel and strong hope for a better, improved and secured economy within a short period of time.
Hon. Nkwonta, wished everyone a hitch free and joyous Easter Celebration!
The Rivers State Police Command has declared that the tragic death of a 26-year-old lady, Peace Moses, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, was not reported in any of its divisions or units across the state.
Peace was knocked down last Monday evening by a convoy of about 15 fast-moving vehicles around Omega Junction along Ada-George Road in Port Harcourt.
She was returning from an evening service at her church, Love Channel Christian Centre, also located along Ada-George Road, when the tragic incident occurred.
Last Thursday, a candlelight procession was organised in her honour by her friends and neighbours.
Speaking with our correspondent in Port Harcourt yesterday, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), wondered why neighbours could not report the incident to the Police.
Iringe-Koko stated that even the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Rumuepirikom Police Division was unaware of the tragic incident.
“Probably they didn’t report any such incident to the Police Station because the DPO in charge of that area is asking me where and when the incident occurred.
See, if they don’t report cases to the Police, how would the Police know? We are not magicians. I just spoke with the DPO, and she said she is not aware of anything like that.
“Somebody needs to report or anyhow, information needs to get through so that we too will get it,” she said.
But reacting to the claim by the Police, a human rights lawyer, Courage Nsirimovu, said that, with or without a report on the tragic incident, the Police are duty-bound to investigate the matter.
Nsirimovu said: “The duty of the Nigerian police is to secure lives and properties, and where a life has been lost in such grievous circumstances, the police have a duty to investigate the matter on the basis of their mandate and the public need to prevent such a menace to human life.
“The Police have a duty to investigate the matter, with or without a petition.”
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Sunday said many Nigerians might seek a constitutional amendment to allow President Bola Tinubu to remain in office beyond two terms.
The monarch, in a congratulatory message by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Alli, to celebrate Tinubu’s 74th birthday, described the President as a decisive leader who has laid a renewed foundation of hope for the country.
“Many Nigerians may beg for a constitutional review for Tinubu to spend more than two terms in office. He is a leader who knows what he is doing,” he said.
Oluwo said the President had distinguished himself through what he described as a firm campaign against illegalities that had stalled the country’s economic growth.
He added that the President’s administrative prowess had driven notable gains, citing improvements in the naira, a rise in foreign reserves from about $1bn to between $49.5bn and $50.45bn as of late February/March 2026, and strengthened economic indices.
The monarch attributed the gains to structural reforms, including exchange rate unification, increased oil output and higher foreign investment inflows.
Oluwo also commended Tinubu for granting local government autonomy, increasing allocations to states, expanding road infrastructure and improving palliative distribution at the grassroots.
According to him, past leaders attempted similar economic reforms but were overwhelmed by public and political pressure.
He said only a capable leader could implement tough but necessary decisions to reposition the economy.
Oluwo added that the President’s policies had begun to impact the standard of living, noting that the next phase would be stability.
He said, “You are not yet a capable leader until you make decisions and stand by them. Many past presidents attempted to remove obstacles to economic prosperity but were overrun by public outcries. Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon leadership through reforms.
“Nigeria’s foreign reserves have increased to over $49.5bn from about $1bn. Local government autonomy is taking effect, states earn more, and road projects, including Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and Sokoto-Badagry, are ongoing.”