By Chukwudi Obasi, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Tuesday degenerated into a stormy session as lawmakers clashed bitterly over a motion seeking to investigate alleged illegal allocations of Federal Government lands at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
The chamber, which started the day’s plenary calmly, quickly turned rowdy when the motion sponsored by Hon. Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos) was introduced, seeking the constitution of an ad hoc committee to probe what he described as “criminal and unauthorised allocation” of parcels of land within the trade fair complex, a major federal asset located along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
But before the motion could be debated, several lawmakers objected to the creation of a new panel, insisting that the matter fell squarely under the jurisdiction of the existing House Committee on Commerce.
They accused the sponsors of attempting to sidestep the standing committee process, alleging that similar issues had been handled in the past through established legislative channels.
Tempers flared when the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, put the motion to a voice vote and ruled against it after the majority rejected Kuye’s proposal.
Almost immediately, angry shouts erupted across the floor, with some lawmakers refusing to yield the microphone and others banging on their desks in protest.
The uproar intensified as several members accused the presiding officer of bias in the ruling. In contrast, others expressed pent-up frustration over the federal government’s failure to pay indigenous contractors for completed projects.
The contractors’ issue, which had been simmering for weeks, suddenly became the rallying point for disgruntled lawmakers who turned the debate into a protest.
“The House will not sit until indigenous contractors are paid,” some members shouted repeatedly, drowning out attempts by the Deputy Speaker to restore order. Every subsequent motion introduced was met with boos and jeers, as the aggrieved lawmakers refused to entertain any other business on the floor.
Multiple sources within the chamber said the outburst was not only about the disputed Lagos land allocations but also reflected broader anger among members over the government’s handling of contractual obligations and what they described as “executive high-handedness” in ignoring legislative resolutions.
Efforts by the Deputy Speaker to calm the agitated members were unsuccessful, prompting him to call for an executive session behind closed doors abruptly.
Even after the closed-door meeting, tensions remained high as several lawmakers reportedly insisted that the plenary would not resume regular business until the Ministry of Finance settled all outstanding debts owed to local contractors.
One member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the anger was also fuelled by what many lawmakers see as “selective payment” by the executive arm.
“The issue has gone beyond Trade Fair lands. This is about the credibility of governance and respect for our resolutions. Members are frustrated that our oversight recommendations are constantly ignored,” he said.
The session, which had been expected to consider key aspects of the 2024 budget process, ended abruptly after it became clear that the House could not continue under the tense atmosphere.
“The Deputy Speaker, in his closing remarks, announced an adjournment of plenary till next week Tuesday to allow time for ‘executive consultation and resolution of pending payment issues.”
The uproar highlights growing friction between the legislature and the executive branch, particularly over budget releases, contract payments, and asset management.
The controversy surrounding the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex has been a recurring subject of dispute between federal agencies and private developers for over a decade.
The complex, managed by the Lagos International Trade Fair Management Board under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits and controversies over alleged land racketeering, illegal leases, and encroachment by private interests.
Several past administrations had promised to sanitise the ownership structure, but little progress has been made.
While some lawmakers support a full-fledged ad hoc investigation to expose alleged fraud and irregularities, others insist the Committee on Commerce already has the mandate to probe and report such matters.
“There is no need for duplication,” one member argued. “We have a standing committee for this. Setting up another one will only waste time and resources.”
By the time the gavel fell to end the chaotic sitting, it was evident that the House had lost control of its agenda for the day.
Some members walked out in protest, while others stayed behind to express solidarity with their colleagues, who were demanding accountability.
A senior legislative aide described the day’s session as “a complete breakdown of order,” adding that unless the executive addresses the underlying issues of contract arrears and legislative respect, more such disruptions may occur.
“The anger you saw today is just a symptom,” the aide said. “Many members feel that the executive is taking them for granted. The issue of the Trade Fair lands was just the trigger.”
As lawmakers prepare to reconvene next Tuesday, attention will now shift to how the Presidency and Ministry of Finance respond to the House’s demands.
Political watchers say the outcome could shape the tone of executive-legislative relations in the coming months, especially as the 2024 budget debate enters its final stages.
The Deputy Speaker’s decision to suspend the sitting, sources say, was meant to buy time for behind-the-scenes negotiations to pacify the House leadership and ensure smooth passage of pending legislative items.
However, the mood among lawmakers remains defiant, and there are indications that fresh protests could erupt if indigenous contractors are not paid before the next plenary session.
For now, the crisis has exposed deep fissures within the legislature, between those pushing for institutional discipline and those using plenary sessions to press broader grievances.
With tempers still flaring and key national issues hanging in the balance, next week’s sitting may determine whether Tuesday’s chaos was a passing storm or a sign of deeper institutional unrest.
