House of Representatives Adjourns Abruptly with No Bills Considered Amid Rising Tensions
Tension swept through the Nigerian House of Representatives on Tuesday as plenary was abruptly adjourned to Wednesday without a single item on the day’s Order Paper being considered. The unexpected halt has raised concerns among lawmakers and observers over growing discontent within the chamber and the handling of critical legislative matters.
The Order Paper for the day was extensive, listing 30 bills for first reading, 16 reports for consideration, eight bills scheduled for second reading, and six motions slated for possible adoption. Yet, despite the packed agenda, proceedings came to an abrupt stop.
The session began with the arrival of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and other principal officers. Lawmakers immediately moved into a closed-door executive session that lasted for about an hour. Although no formal explanation was provided to the public, sources within the chamber suggested that the executive session focused on the expiration of a one-week ultimatum issued to the Minister of Finance and relevant agencies to clear outstanding debts owed to indigenous contractors.
After the session resumed, tensions escalated when Hon. Ifeanyi Uzokwe of Anambra repeatedly sought recognition to raise a point of order. His requests were reportedly ignored by the Speaker, who instead proceeded to make routine announcements, including a notice of an emergency meeting for the South West caucus.
Undeterred by the initial snub, Uzokwe persisted in his attempts to gain attention. In response, the Speaker directed him to approach the chair privately. Shortly afterward, the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, moved a motion for adjournment. The motion was adopted, bringing the day’s session to a close without any legislative progress.
Speaking off the record, a two-term member of the House described the development as troubling, noting a growing lack of confidence among lawmakers in the leadership’s handling of internal affairs. The lawmaker expressed concern that decisions were being made without adequate consultation, fostering resentment within the chamber.
“What happened today shows that many members are losing confidence in the leadership’s handling of internal matters. There’s a sense that key decisions are being made without adequate consultation, and that’s creating resentment,” the lawmaker told The PUNCH.
The House of Representatives is expected to reconvene on Wednesday to resume legislative business. Lawmakers and stakeholders are closely monitoring developments, emphasizing the need for greater transparency, accountability, and effective leadership to ensure that critical bills and motions are addressed in a timely manner.
