It was a tense and rowdy atmosphere at the House of Representatives on Tuesday — as lawmakers clashed over a motion to probe the alleged illegal allocation of federal lands at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
The motion, moved by Representative Ademorin Kuye, called for an ad hoc committee to investigate the alleged land deals.
But the proposal quickly met stiff resistance from several members, who argued that the matter should instead be handled by the Standing Committee on Commerce — which already has oversight of such issues.
When the motion was put to a vote, the Deputy Speaker, who presided over the session, ruled against it — a decision that sparked fresh outrage across the chamber.
What followed was chaos, as lawmakers raised their voices in protest — not just over the ruling, but over unpaid indigenous contractors said to be owed by the Federal Government.
Several members reportedly vowed that no further sittings would hold until those contractors were paid, shouting down any attempt to move new motions or proceed with business.
Attempts by the leadership to restore calm proved unsuccessful, forcing the Deputy Speaker to call for an executive session to douse the tension.
Afterwards, the House adjourned until next Tuesday, giving the executive arm time to settle the debts and continue work on the 2024 budget.
Tuesday’s uproar highlights growing frustration among lawmakers over stalled payments and governance delays — even as the National Assembly resumes work on next year’s spending plan.
