The House of Representatives has backtracked on its earlier resolution to suspend its plenary for one week over nonpayment payment of indigenous contractors, whose protests made access to the National Assembly difficult for lawmakers and other staff of the parliament,on Tuesday.
The lawmakers had said the decision to suspend plenary was in view of the difficulty they faced in accessing the National Assembly Complex.
Besides, the House also said the suspension of plenary was also to allow the House leadership to use the period to interface with the executive arm and ensure the local contractors were paid to avoid further disruptions of activities of the National Assembly.
The decisions followed a motion of urgent national importance by the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, who drew attention to the “dire plight” of contractors owed by the Federal Government despite repeated assurances from the executive to offset the debts.
However, in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the House later on Tuesday, he said the House would reconvene for plenary on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, contrary to the earlier resolution to adjourn sittings until Tuesday next week.
“This decision follows positive developments arising from engagements and interventions across various levels of government concerning issues that informed the earlier adjournment, particularly matters relating to contractors’ agitations and the non-release of funds under the 2024/2025 budget.
“The development was formally conveyed to Honourable Members by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, Esq., via an internal memorandum issued on Tuesday evening.
“According to the communication, the early resumption will afford the Leadership of the House the opportunity to brief members on progress recorded in resolving these issues and other related matters of national importance.
“At Wednesday’s plenary, the House is expected to formally rescind its earlier adjournment resolution to enable proceedings to continue.
“The Leadership urges all Honourable Members to make the necessary arrangements to be in attendance”, the statement said.
Earlier at Tuesday’s plenary while moving the motion under matters of urgent national importance, Chinda had said the protest, which disrupted access to the National Assembly, stemmed from the government’s failure to implement directives by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the Ministers of Finance and as well as Budget immediately pay local contractors.
“You recall that our local contractors; our brothers and sisters, besieged the National Assembly today, protesting that they have not been paid for jobs completed under the 2024 budget.
“This non-payment has caused untold hardship to our people, and it is our duty as a Parliament to take a stand,” he said.
The House subsequently resolved to give the Ministers of Finance, Wale Edun; Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamsedeen Ogunjimi, seven days to settle all outstanding payments to the contractors and fully commence implementation of the 2025 budget.
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who presided the session, put the motion to vote, and it was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.
However, drama unfolded when Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu Mai-Palace (Zamfara State) moved a follow-up motion urging the House to adjourn plenary sessions for one week until the executive responds to the ultimatum.
“Mr. Speaker, the urgency and sensitivity of this matter demand that we suspend our sittings for one week so that the leadership can engage the executive to find a lasting solution,” he said.
Supporting the motion, the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, explained that the decision was practical since the protesting contractors had vowed to continue their demonstrations for a week, making access to the Assembly complex difficult.
Following unanimous approval by voice vote, Kalu ruled that the House would adjourn all plenary activities until next Tuesday, pending the outcome of consultations between the leadership of the House and the executive arm.
The House also mandated its leadership to ensure strict compliance with the resolution and report back within one week for “further drastic legislative action” should the executive fail to act.
