Crisis is brewing in the House of Representatives as members prepare for a showdown with the Speaker, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, when the House reconvenes on September 23, investigations by Weekend LEADERSHIP have revealed.
Already, some angry members have started compiling what they described as the ‘iniquities’ of the Speaker and the House leadership.
They alleged that Abbas and others short-changed members of the House in the sharing of privileges.
Members of the National Assembly, which comprises the Senate and the House of Representatives, are currently on their annual legislative recess.
The lawmakers are expected to reconvene on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
On July 23, the Speaker of the House declared the adjournment and advised members to take advantage of the break to engage in constituency work, attend to local issues, and monitor federal projects within their areas.
The annual recess is a routine part of the National Assembly’s legislative calendar. It allows lawmakers to balance national duties with constituency responsibilities and personal commitments.
Investigations by LEADERSHIP Weekend showed that the irate lawmakers are using the holiday to form caucuses to discuss issues affecting them and their welfare.
They were said to have been stunned when they heard the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, speak during the induction ceremony for 785 newly recruited staff on Monday in Abuja.
Ogunlana was represented by the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly (DCNA), Engineer Bashir Yero, at the event.
At the event, 785 new employees across Grade Levels 8 to 12 were inducted.
The fuming members of the House took their anger about the recruitment of the new staff to the House’s WhatsApp platform, asking why and how the recruitment was made without their input.
Some of them said the Speaker had taken them for a ride because of their loyalty, and have concluded to confront him when the House resumes on September 23.
The lawmakers are also troubled that their inability to attract meaningful projects to their constituencies could prevent them from re-election in 2027.
One of them wrote, “Wonders can never end in NASS. How can the (National Assembly) Commission employ over 800 new staff without members’ knowledge for them to even nominate from their constituencies?”
Another replied sarcastically, “Who told you leadership is not aware? Their candidates are among those recruited, pls.”
“We have lost our rights to loyalty; a lot of things are going on in NASS without considering members’ interests. Once leadership’s interest is taken care of, they’re fine,” another angry member said.
“The commission employed 851 people and their induction was done today, 24 August, kai… this is unfair to members.”
“May God help us. We couldn’t even get 1 slot for our constituency,” another Rep wrote.
Angst over budget performance, Killings in North
Another group within the House is similarly angry about the budget performance and its implementation by the executive, and the killings in the northern part of the country.
Welcoming members to the group, its facilitator (name withheld) wrote: “Dear leaders, colleagues, the challenges before us demand unity and courage. We must confront the non-performing budget, the selective funding of projects, and the unfair concentration of development in the South-West while other regions are left behind.
“Above all, the daily killings in the North are a stain on our nation’s conscience. These are not issues to ignore. As honourable members, we owe it to the people we represent to rise together, speak with one voice, and act decisively.
“This is the sole reason for creating this group. We cannot continue to remain silent. What are we going to tell the constituents? Where have we spoken on their behalf? Remember the one billion naira issue in their minds. The time to act is now. Silence no more!”
However, the alleged concentration of projects in the South-West, as raised by the Rep, drew the anger of some of his colleagues.
“Unfair concentration of projects in the South-West? Are you for real? Can you mention one or two projects that are located in the South-West at the expense of other regions?” an angry member of the group named ‘Budget and Constituency’ queried.
Another member warned against targeting the South-West in the group’s agitation, saying doing so might affect the integrity of the movement.
“I want to salute your courage for championing this, but for us to be united we cannot start with the issue of singling out the South-West. Some will see it as a direct attack on us and might not see the need to support the movement. The need to come out boldly in unison cannot be overemphasised,” he said.
A member dissociated himself from the group if it would fight President Bola Tinubu, but said:
“I am in support of lending a voice to the plight of our local contractors which has inexorably affected members and their constituents.”
Like the first caution concerning the issue of the South-West, another influential member warned the convener of the group to drop the subject.
He said: “I can understand your piece from many angles you didn’t talk about. However, I would advise you to drop that which has to do with the SW. This is political. This matter has lived with us for the last 26 years, and it will still continue for many years to come. Project concentration is not the only headline under this topic.
What of civil service employment? What of police/army structure? What is the mathematical composition of permanent secretaries in this country? We can go on and on. So, please drop this topic. It is too toxic and political. We can address many of these, if we insist.”
Many others also supported the idea of dropping the issue of projects in the South-West.
An upset member appealed to his colleagues to calm down, saying: “The purpose of opening this platform is mainly the issue of members’ welfare, selective funding of budget and non-payment of local contractors.
“As it is today, we’re on a two-month recess, but many of us refused to travel to our constituency because of funds. Party primary is next year.”
“Then his post should be amended and rephrased; 80 per cent of us are suffering,” another said.
A lawmaker urged his colleagues to join others in putting pressure on local contractors; otherwise, they (the lawmakers) won’t have anything to show for their four-year tenure in the House.
His comment might have suggested that the members either brought the local contractors or that they are their fronts.
He said: “Honourable members, let the truth be told: Are we all happy with the insecurity in Nigeria? How many people have lost their lives, those kidnapped for ransom? How many motions on matters of public importance can we remember raised in the House? How many minutes’ silence have we stood up to observe and pray for those brutally murdered? Efforts to get a reaction from the House leadership failed as calls made to the telephone number of its spokesman, Akin Rotimi, did not go through. Additionally, messages sent to him via SMS and WhatsApp remained unanswered as of the time of going to press.
However, sources close to the leadership said the problem of insufficient funds to back budget implementation was not unique to the House of Representatives alone. The source also questioned the grumbling of some lawmakers concerning the 785 new staff.
“What exactly is their grievance?” the source asked. “Are they saying that the National Assembly Commission did not advertise or conduct due diligence before recruiting the staff? Are they saying that Nigerians without connections in the National Assembly or House of Representatives cannot be employed on merit? They should come out and state what they want.”
The source added that there are proper channels for lawmakers to express their grievances, such as raising motions on the House floor or addressing a press conference. “If they cannot do that, they are cowards,” the source said.
