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By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Area Councils, and Auxiliary Matters on Monday issued a summons to the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Bunkure, directing her to appear before the panel on Tuesday alongside 14 agencies under her supervision.
The committee’s decision followed the failure of both the Minister and the agencies to attend the scheduled 2025 budget defence session, despite the budget proposal having been submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for swift consideration and passage.
Out of the 14 agencies invited, only three appeared before the committee on Monday. The Minister of State and the remaining 11 agencies failed to show up and did not send any formal explanation for their absence.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Fredrick Agbedii, while announcing the resolution, condemned the nonappearance and warned that the National Assembly may be forced to exercise its full legislative powers against the Minister and the absentees if they fail to appear by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Agbedii noted that the president had urged the lawmakers to give prompt attention to the 2025 budget, a call the parliament was working to honour in the interest of Nigerians. He expressed concern that appointees of the president were undermining the process through their disregard for legislative engagements.
He added, “The Minister of State and the agencies under her purview were properly invited for this vital budget defence. Our committee interacts directly with the grassroots in the FCT, and our work significantly impacts residents.”
Agbedii further called on President Tinubu to urgently address the lack of seriousness among some of his political appointees, warning that such actions were capable of stalling the administration’s developmental agenda.
Also speaking, Hon. Paul Kalejaye member representing Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Lagos) criticised the failure of the Minister and agencies to attend, describing it as a slight against the authority of the National Assembly. He recommended that sanctions be imposed to deter future occurrences.
The Committee adjourned the budget defence session to Tuesday at 4:00 p.m., directing the Minister and the 14 agencies to appear without fail.