Reps don’t need Tinubu to explain budget implementation, says Agbese

The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has said President Bola Tinubu does not need to appear before the House to answer questions on the implementation of the national budget, insisting that the responsibility rests with ministers, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Agbese made the remarks in Abuja while reacting to last Wednesday’s rowdy plenary, which followed a motion seeking to invite the President to appear before lawmakers over budget implementation.

The controversy erupted after the member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, Mascot Ikwechegh, introduced a prayer seeking to summon the President, despite the request not being contained in the original motion submitted ahead of plenary.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the session, ruled that Ikwechegh had departed from the approved version of the motion, a decision that triggered heated exchanges on the floor of the House.

Commenting on the incident, Agbese said the National Assembly’s oversight responsibility is to hold accountable officials directly responsible for implementing the budget, rather than the President.

“The House does not need Mr President to appear before it to resolve budget-related issues. The relevant ministers and the Office of the Accountant-General are the right people to answer the questions members are asking because they are directly involved in budget implementation,” he said.

According to him, ministers, heads of MDAs and the Accountant-General are better placed to explain how budgetary allocations are utilised because they oversee the implementation process.

“Budget implementation and expenditure fall within the responsibilities of ministers, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation,” Agbese said.