A session by a joint Committee of the National Assembly has been marked by tension and disruption of proceedings, after two prominent senators were locked in verbal altercations during the N3.4 trillion 2026 budget presentation of the Ministry of Work defended by the ministerial head David Umahi.
The tension erupted and intensified when Senator Peter Nwebonyi from Ebonyi North was given an audience to question the budget proposal presented by the Works’ minister. Senator Nwebonyi, the Senate’s deputy chief whip from the APC, quickly shifted the focus of the basis he was given an audience to speak, praising President Bola Tinubu’s government and Mr Umahi’s achievements instead of asking questions right away.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Rufai Hanga from Kano Central, a member of NNPP and deputy minority whip, urged him to wrap up after five minutes of praise, prompting Mr Nwebonyi to accuse him of bias against members of the ruling party.
Mr Nwebonyi alleged of unequal treatment, noting that Senator Adams Oshiomhole was allowed to speak longer than he did without interruption. He claimed that his position as a principal officer entitled him to more leeway. Mr Hanga rejected the argument, insisting that no one can override the authority given to the chairman of a sitting.
Senator Ali Ndume from Borno North tried to intervene by requesting for an apology from Nwebonyi, a move the latter refused before storming out of the meeting.
After the halted proceeding was resumed, Mr Umahi revealed that the federal government owed contractors a sum of N2.2 trillion for the 2023-2024 projects, an issue already raised at the Federal Executive Council where President Tinubu ordered an ad hoc committee to handle payments.
This followed earlier protests over delayed settlements by the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) at the Ministry of Finance.
The minister also highlighted rising vandalism of governmental properties: roads, bridges, drainage, and electrical setups along highways, urging lawmakers to pass legislations that incriminate such acts as punishable under law.
He cited recent incidents like blocked drainages causing coastal road menace and theft of expansion joints as examples that call for urgent legislative action.
“Works are destroyed by those who are harvesting rods, refuse is dumped in our drainage channel,” the minister said.
“Like what happened on our coastal road two days ago, because of blocked drainage channels, removal of electrical facilities on our road, harvesting of expansion joints on our bridges and parking on our roads and bridges. Any legislation on these issues will be desirable,” he concluded.