Politics
As Senate, House differ on National Assembly finances
The declaration by the House of Representatives last month that the National Assembly is broke and the decision of the Senate to fault the claim is generating an interesting discourse among keen watchers of the country’s political development, SUNDAY ABORISADE and LEKE BAIYEWU write
The House of Representatives courted the wrath of Nigerians last month when it declared that the nation’s apex legislative institution was broke and demanded additional funds to enable it to carry out its functions effectively to the country.
The Senate, in what appears to be a case of damage control, following heavy backlash on the social media, denied the position of the House of Representatives, claiming that the two chambers were being adequately funded.
However, the House stood its ground and insisted that the paucity of funds had made the working environment not conducive for lawmakers while they had not been able to carry out their legislative activities to the best of their ability.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, stirred the hornet nest a few weeks ago when he declared for the umpteenth time that the National Assembly was broke.
The National Assembly had a budget of N139.5bn in 2018, N125bn in 2019 and N128bn (N125bn proposed, N3bn added) in 2020. While the sum of N125bn was proposed for the National Assembly in 2021, it later got N134bn along with its affiliates.
Kalu was asked if it was true that the House reduced the number of days lawmakers sit for plenary per week – from three days to one and recently two – to cut costs. He said it was for safety reasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House’ spokesman, however, said the parliament was ‘broke’ still.
Kalu said, “Yes, the House is ‘broke,’ I have said it before and I am saying it again and I am not afraid to say it. The House is ‘broke’ and it is afraid to appropriate the sufficient amount for them to do their job.
“The House is broke and is afraid of your complaints as Nigerians to make provision for what will make them run the activities of the House effectively.
“That is why today, here is hot; that is why the hearing rooms are not fixed; that is why the house is indebted to contractors who provide one form of service or the other. This is the fact.
“Nigerians must be made to know that the appropriation that was made for the running of the National Assembly, which happened when naira was 160 to the dollar, is less now than what it used to be.
“The dollar equivalent of naira today has gone up to over N400. The purchasing power of the budget, as it is now, is weaker than it was 10 years ago.
“The budget of the National Assembly is supposed to be reviewed, in view of its purchasing ability of the services that will help the parliament to move forward. At the moment, it is a weak budget and that is the truth.
“I have actually fought with the leadership of the House and I have asked the question, ‘Why are you afraid to raise the budget of the National Assembly that will enable us to conduct our services efficiently and effectively?’
“We appropriate for agencies to run effectively, yet we are in penury to our own constitutional mandate. It is a disservice to Nigerians; the poor budget of the parliament is a disservice to Nigerians.”
According to Kalu, parliaments and parliamentarians in other climes spend more funds, making them perform better.
He said, “Let us be fair in our analogy; let us wear the right spectacles when we analyse and you will find out that this N128bn of the National assembly, that is divided among all the agencies of the National Assembly; that is divided among all the staff – over 3,000 to 6,000 members of staff; that is divided among all the aides, five aides per lawmaker.
“Sometimes, people wonder if we really need those aides. How do you think we will function by making good laws? You need seasoned experts to work for you.
“If you go to America, you will see professors who are consulting and working directly with members of the parliament.
“That is why when they come out with their laws, bills and motions; they are what address the problems of the country. But can we afford that as we are? The answer is no, we cannot.
“So, if you ask me 20 times, whether the National Assembly is broke, until they improve the budget of the National Assembly, I will say, ‘Yes, we are broke.’”
It was not the first time Kalu would lament the paucity of funds at the National Assembly.
The House’ spokesman had on February 9, 2021, said pressure being mounted by Nigerians on members of the National Assembly was “killing” them.
He had added that Nigerians did not understand the functions of a parliament, making them erroneously make demands from lawmakers and have expectations beyond their primary responsibilities.
Kalu, at a press conference, had described the National Assembly as one of the poorest, perhaps in Africa or in the world.
He said this in response to a question on whether the lawmakers had been compromised due to the failure by its various standing and ad hoc committees to turn in their reports on several probes.
He said, “As per being compromised, it is very painful that that word keeps coming out. You know that if this parliament has been compromised, you will see it. This is one of the poorest parliaments.
You don’t see them (lawmakers) living in luxury. Compromised with what? Positions or money or what?
“These guys (lawmakers) here are suffering; these guys are under stress. That is why most of the illnesses they are passing through – heart attack, this failure, that failure – are due to stress from their constituents. That is the truth and the truth must be told. Whether you try to understand it or not, let the press know this: the pressure from the constituents is killing members of the National Assembly. That is the truth.
“The pressure is too much! The pressure is too much!! People are receiving a lot of pressure on even issues that do not concern them. The pressure that is coming from the constituents is way out of the scope.
“Those who are not supposed to build roads are asked to build roads. Those who are not supposed to build hospitals are asked to build hospitals.
“So, most of the members of the National Assembly are under great pressure. And the resources for them to meet these expectations from the public are not there.
“People don’t want to hear this but I must tell you the truth; that the members of the parliament are under pressure.
“I don’t care how you go and report it; it is the truth. This is the truth, you can report it however you want to. I’m telling you that members of the National Assembly don’t have the kind of money and resources you say they have. And the pain that is being inflicted on them is affecting most of them.”
Kalu, however, said, “Despite the pressure, we will continue to do our job. We must do it; that is what we signed for. As per the pressure, it is much.
“Many people misunderstand what is happening with the parliament. And some of the members who don’t know how to explain to their constituents carry this pressure with them (lawmakers), with little resources, and it weighs them down.”
He asked, “Do you know that members of the National Assembly spend their private money to take care of constituents? But the constituents feel that the money they are being given is from the Federal Government. It is coming from the representatives’ pocket and this is killing them.
“Go and ask any of the National Assembly members, from the Senate to the House, nobody is finding it easy. But we will keep pushing on because this is a national service. We are competent enough to carry the pressure and that is why we are here.”
However, the Spokesperson for the Senate, Dr Ajibola Basiru, said the National Assembly, being on first line charge, was neither broke nor experiencing cash crunch.
He said, “The National Assembly is on first line charge and the story of cash crunch in the National Assembly is a figment of the writer’s imagination.
“The National Assembly as far as I am concerned does not owe its staff, salaries. The management does not also owe any lawmaker.
“It is totally wrong to say that the National Assembly is relying on the ministries, departments and agencies to fund its committee works. If that is the case, that will even be a conflict of interest.
“The National Assembly does not rely on the MDAs to fund our activities. We have the budget for our committees and oversight.
“Also, when there are specific needs in terms of consultancy services or special travels to do our jobs, the bureaucracy supports such assignment. It does not make sense to rely on the same MDAs.
“There is no senator or member of the House of Representatives that can come out and say he or she has not been paid.”
When our correspondent asked Basiru why he was insisting that the nation’s Parliament was not broke contrary to the position of his counterpart on the House, he said, “please direct your questions to the person who said that.”
Basiru said, “I have said it and I am repeating it again that the National Assembly is not broke and we are being funded to carry out our oversight functions and committee works.”
But the Campaign for Democracy hit hard at the National Assembly for demanding more funding.
The Secretary General of the CD, Ifeanyi Odili, said the federal Parliament offended many Nigerians when it cried out that it was broke.
He said, “It is appalling and extremely annoying for both members of the NASS to complain of the paucity of funds. The paucity of funds, for which purpose? What are they doing at the hallowed chambers that make them to be entitled to N134bn in every fiscal year?
“I felt bad when I heard the news that members of the House of Representatives are complaining of lack of funds. If they are sharing among themselves N134bn annually and are complaining, what do they want Nigerians who are on less than a dollar per day do?
“Their complaint came at a time when Nigerians are saying they have failed the nation. In every facet of our national life, members of NASS have failed woefully. “There is kidnapping, terrorism, and evil occurrences all over the place unchecked.
“It is an affront on Nigerians for the members of NASS to complain of funds because they are doing nothing, and are less bothered about what happens to the poor masses.
“Whereas, these guys were not unknown to Nigerians as people who truly needed fiscal and physical rehabilitation before their emergence at the NASS.
“Apart from this, because of what they call little money, N134bn annually, there is real agitation CD has embarked on concerning the money sinking down into NASS every year.
“The CD is of the opinion that the status of members of the NASS should be at the same status as that of the Permanent Secretary in the civil service.
“We are saying that their positions should be less attractive because we have so many areas we should channel our national patrimony to.
“Some of these members of NASS do not have good roads network in their respective states. Across Nigeria, there are no good roads, no sound health facility, our security agencies are poorly remunerated, hence poor policing is the result.
“Finally, their request is ill-conceived, unnecessary and uncalled for, lacking the true spirit and sense of nationalism. It portrays them as a group of squanderers, who are out to squander and loot our nation to its marrow.”.
Also, the President of Women Arise, Joe Okei-Odumakin, said the National Assembly was insensitive to the plight of suffering Nigerians by complaining about funds paucity.
Okei-Odumakin said, “The reality is that such argument emanating from the nation’s legislature at this crucial moment of national austerity is quite insensitive.
“ This is because the availability of fund or otherwise in the purse of the National Assembly, has no direct bearing as such, on the lives of the ordinary citizens.
“The huge fund always allocated annually to our legislators, is used to service their personal needs and advance individual political fortunes.
“I strongly feel, that will be of more concern, to the average Nigerian, rather than if the National Assembly has enough money in its purse or not.”
Chief Sir OAU Onyema, a senatorial aspirant for Enugu West in the 2027 elections, has announced his resignation from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing alleged lack of transparency, internal manipulation, and attempts by party leaders to impose candidates on the electorate.
Speaking during a media briefing, Onyema accused influential figures within the party of abandoning democratic principles by allegedly sidelining popular aspirants in favour of loyalists and personal associates.
According to him, party leaders have failed to release the results of screening exercises and purported primary elections, raising concerns that the process is being manipulated to favour preferred candidates before names are submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The former aspirant specifically alleged that a prominent political figure from Delta State was working with some NDC leaders to undermine the wishes of the people of Enugu West Senatorial District by promoting a personal aide for the senatorial ticket despite lacking grassroots political support in the district.
Onyema said such moves would be resisted through lawful and democratic means, insisting that the people of Enugu West deserve candidates with established political relevance and local acceptance.
He further claimed that efforts to integrate political structures built around Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, into the NDC were frustrated, resulting in what he described as weak and ineffective party structures at the ward level.
The politician also alleged financial irregularities within the party, including what he termed the undue collection of funds from members, though he did not provide specific evidence during the briefing.
Expressing disappointment with the party’s operations, Onyema declared that the NDC had failed to live up to expectations of transparency, fairness, and sincerity.
He vowed to work towards providing voters in Enugu West with credible alternatives ahead of the 2027 elections, regardless of political party affiliation.
“We remain committed to the ideals of justice, fairness, democracy, and the will of the people,” Onyema stated, adding that while he still believes a new Nigeria is possible, he has lost confidence in the NDC and is formally exiting the party.
He maintained that the 2027 elections would be “interesting” and expressed confidence that voters would increasingly focus on the quality of candidates rather than political party platforms.
In the now-controversial post shared on his social media page, Osborne wrote: “In a sane clime president Bola Ahmed Tinubu would’ve respectfully and honourably resigned. I’m of APC but truth be told.”
The comment quickly generated reactions online before the Akwa Ibom State Government moved to terminate his appointment.
In a letter dated June 2, 2026, the Office of the Political Adviser to the Governor announced his immediate disengagement.
The termination letter, signed by the Political Adviser to the Governor, Prince Godwin Ntuk Udeh, stated that Osborne Ubong Okon had been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.Politics
According to the letter, the decision was taken over actions the office described as disloyal.
“You are hereby relieved of your engagement as a Media Aide to the Political Adviser to His Excellency the Governor, with immediate effect and from today, 2nd June 2026,” the memo read.
The letter further cited “actions bordering on disloyalty” and the need to keep the office “purified” as reasons for the dismissal.
The office also issued a warning to members of the public and government officials regarding future dealings with the former aide.
“Any person having dealings with the above-mentioned former Media Aide in relation to this office of his former engagement does so on his/her own peril,” the statement added.
The development has sparked fresh conversations about the limits of political expression for government appointees and the expectations of loyalty within public service, particularly when comments are directed at the presidency.
Neither Osborne nor the Presidency had publicly responded to the development as of the time of filing this report.
The decision was taken during plenary on Tuesday at the Assembly complex in Dutse, the state capital, as the party continues to deal with the fallout from recent primaries.
The action comes amid a wave of suspensions across Jigawa APC following the recently conducted primary election.
Several special advisers and special assistants have already been suspended statewide over alleged anti-party activities from state level down to local government level.
Maigari, who doubles as the councillor representing Auyo Ward, was suspended after the House considered a motion by the Majority Leader, Lawan Dansure.
The motion sought disciplinary action against the lawmaker for conduct deemed harmful to party cohesion.
Moving the motion during the Assembly’s plenary session on Tuesday, Dansure urged members to support the suspension.
He said the House must act to protect the integrity of the ruling party ahead of 2027.
According to him, the actions of the Speaker of Auyo Legislative Council are detrimental to the unity, stability, and progress of the All Progressives Congress in the state.
“His actions are detrimental to the unity, stability, and progress of the All Progressives Congress,” Dansure told the House.
He argued that anti-party conduct at the grassroots level could undermine APC’s performance in future elections.
He said the House could not fold its arms while party discipline was being tested.
“Hon. Haruna Maigari is hereby suspended as Speaker of Auyo Legislative Council over alleged anti-party activities,” Dangyatin announced during plenary.
The Speaker also said the House remains committed to party discipline at all levels of governance in the state.
Dangyatin then constituted an investigative committee to look into the matter and report back within two weeks.
“The committee is expected to establish facts and recommend further action based on its findings,” he said.
The Speaker also directed the suspended lawmaker to hand over all official documents in his possession to the Deputy Speaker of Auyo Legislative Council.
He said the handover must be done immediately to ensure continuity of council business.
Meanwhile, the House also received a formal notification from Governor Umar Namadi regarding an official trip.
“The governor is billed to attend a two-day West African Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra, Ghana,” the Speaker said during the plenary session of the Assembly.
Dangyatin, who explained that the governor’s foreign engagement will hold between June 2 and June 3, 2026, added that “the governor’s participation is aimed at attracting investment to Jigawa’s rice value chain.”
By Chinedu Sabastine
Mr. Samson Chukwu Nnamani has declared that he remains the authentic governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 election.
Nnamani made this known on Friday during a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Enugu.
Reacting to allegations that he was suspended from the party before the PDP governorship primary election, Nnamani dismissed the claim, questioning how a supposedly suspended aspirant could participate in the exercise and secure votes.
“The purported claim that I was suspended is very funny. If I was suspended as they claim, how can they attribute votes for me during their kangaroo primary,” Nnamani questioned.
Represented by his Media Director, Dr. Buchi Nnaji, the PDP chieftain said his authenticity derives from the present recognition of the Abdulrahman-led faction of the PDP by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of which he is a member.
The clarification followed the emergence of multiple claimants to the PDP governorship ticket in Enugu State.
Nnamani insisted that the party was no longer factionalised following INEC’s recognition of the Abdulrahman-led PDP leadership, noting that the panel which declared him winner where sent from their headquaters, Abuja.
Nnamani expressed gratitude to PDP leaders and supporters whom he said turned out massively on Sunday, May 24, 2026, to elect him as the party’s governorship candidate.
He pledged to reposition Enugu State through infrastructure development, job creation and people-oriented policies.
“As the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Enugu State, I remain committed to the ideals of good governance, inclusive leadership, economic development, youth empowerment, quality education, improved healthcare and enhanced security for all residents,” he said.
He added that his aspiration was to build “a greater Enugu State where opportunities abound for every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, religion or social status.”
According to him, his administration would prioritise infrastructure development, industrialisation, support for small businesses and welfare programmes aimed at improving the lives of the people.
“We shall also review and remove policies and practices that are truncating the wellbeing, economic survival and social advancement of the citizens,” he stated.
Nnamani further called on stakeholders, party faithful, youths, women, traditional rulers and the people of Enugu State to join hands in building “a united, peaceful and progressive state.”
“Together, we can achieve the Enugu of our dreams,” he added.
The Presidency has reacted following the circulation of an alleged WhatsApp voice note in which President Bola Tinubu reportedly claims he begged opposition figure Peter Obi to step down ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The reaction came on Wednesday from Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President.
Onanuga condemned the audio file, labeling it a fabrication and called for legal action against popular social media critic VeryDarkMan who shared it.
“This VDM needs to face the weight of the law for being the conveyor and disseminator of a fake audio of President Tinubu. This is a clear case of an egregious abuse of the social media platform.,” Onanuga tweeted.
In the viral video, VeryDarkMan used the alleged leaked audio to urge Nigerians to vote against President Tinubu’s reelection bid in the upcoming 2027 polls.
Recall that just days ago, on Saturday, May 23, 2026, President Tinubu secured the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a landslide nationwide direct primary election.
During that contest, Tinubu faced a lone challenger, Edo State businessman and APC chieftain Stanley Osifo. The President won with 10,999,162 votes from the 12,643,306 registered party members, while Osifo secured 16,503 votes.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi, who finished third in the 2023 election, is widely expected to fly the flag for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). Both Obi and Tinubu hail from the southern region of Nigeria and are set to face last year’s runner-up, Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to lead the ticket for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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