The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has said the House does not require the presence of President Bola Tinubu to resolve issues relating to the implementation and oversight of the national budget.
Agbese made the remarks while speaking with a select group of journalists in Abuja on Sunday.
His comments followed last Wednesday’s rowdy plenary session in the House of Representatives over a motion seeking to invite President Tinubu to appear before lawmakers to explain issues surrounding the implementation of the national budget, particularly constituency projects.
The controversy arose after the member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency of Abia State, Hon. Mascot Ikwechegh, moved a motion calling on the House to summon the President over the alleged poor implementation of the budget.
The motion divided lawmakers, with some supporting the proposal while others opposed it.
Presiding over the session, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, ruled that Ikwechegh had deviated from the original version of the motion submitted before plenary by introducing a prayer that was not contained in the approved document.
“It is a complete deviation from the copy you gave me,” Abbas had said.
Reacting to the development, Agbese argued that responsibility for budget implementation rests with ministers, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, stressing that they are the appropriate officials to account for the implementation of the budget.
He noted that the National Assembly has constitutional
