The House of Representatives has dismissed claims of a brewing showdown against Speaker Abbas Tajudeen over delays in constituency project funding, describing the reports as misleading and exaggerated.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi Jr., faulted a media report (not by this platform) which suggested that growing discontent among lawmakers over unpaid constituency projects was threatening unity in the 10th Assembly.
Rotimi said the claims were based on “isolated remarks and informal conversations from WhatsApp groups” that were wrongly presented as official caucus positions.
He stressed that despite political, ethnic and religious diversity, the 10th Assembly remained solidly united under the leadership of Speaker Abbas.
On the issue of unpaid contractors, Rotimi explained that delayed payments were not peculiar to lawmakers’ constituency projects but part of a wider national fiscal challenge.
“Delayed contractor payments are a national challenge. For weeks, the House leadership, through the Appropriations Committees, has engaged the Minister of Finance. Payments have already commenced, and leadership is committed to ensuring all outstanding 2024 obligations are cleared,” he said.
He acknowledged that legislators were under pressure from constituents awaiting nominated projects but urged the public not to misinterpret such concerns.
The House also distanced itself from controversies over recruitment into the National Assembly bureaucracy, insisting that the process was the sole responsibility of the National Assembly Service Commission. Rotimi noted that Speaker Abbas had already ordered a probe to ensure transparency and fairness.
Rejecting suggestions of regional bias in project distribution, the spokesman stressed that “the House operates on principles of equity, justice and fairness.”
The leadership urged Nigerians to ignore insinuations of internal division, reiterating its commitment to transparency, inclusiveness and fairness in lawmaking, oversight and representation.
