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The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has demanded a public apology from the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, accusing him of misrepresenting the position of the House and undermining the constitutional role of the legislature in holding the Executive accountable.
The caucus, in a statement signed by Hon. Afam Victor Ogene on behalf of opposition lawmakers in the House, warned that failure by the House spokesman to tender an apology within 72 hours would compel it to petition the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for appropriate sanctions.
The development follows a recent exchange between the Minority Caucus and the House spokesman over comments made by opposition lawmakers regarding the nation’s worsening security situation and growing economic hardship.
Reacting to the spokesman’s response, the Minority Caucus said it viewed with “grave concern” what it described as an attempt to present a personal or partisan position as that of the entire House of Representatives.
According to the caucus, “The Minority Caucus reminds the House Spokesman that it is the constitutional duty of Parliament to hold the Executive to account,” stressing that democratic governance demands robust oversight rather than unquestioning support for those in power.
The lawmakers further argued that President Bola Tinubu himself, while in opposition, had maintained that “the buck stops at the President’s table,” noting that the principle of executive accountability remains central to constitutional democracy.
The caucus accused the spokesman of defending the Executive instead of demanding accountability for unfulfilled commitments made to Nigerians through the National Assembly.
“The Executive has repeatedly failed to honour commitments made to the Nigerian people through the Parliament. But rather than demand accountability, the House Spokesman has chosen to defend the indefensible,” the statement said.
In one of its strongest remarks, the caucus declared: “The Parliament is not, and will never be, a lapdog of the Executive. We will keep speaking for Nigerians, even if the Majority Caucus elects to capitulate at the altar of blind partisanship, shredding the sacred doctrine of checks and balances, upon which democracy either bleeds or thrives.”
The opposition lawmakers also questioned the procedural basis of the spokesman’s statement, particularly his use of the phrase “House Notes,” arguing that no sitting or resolution of the House had authorized such a position.
For the record, the caucus noted that the last plenary session was held on June 15, 2026, while its media briefing took place on June 17, 2026, with no subsequent meeting of the House convened to deliberate on the matter.
“The deployment of the phrase ‘House Notes’ in his statement is improper, misleading, and constitutes a flagrant breach of the collective privileges of Members,” the statement asserted.
It maintained that while the House spokesman could legitimately speak for the Speaker, the House leadership, or the Majority Caucus, he lacked the authority to claim to represent the views of the entire House, particularly those of the Minority Caucus.
The caucus further argued that issues relating to insecurity, governance and public welfare fall squarely within the constitutional oversight responsibilities of the National Assembly.
According to the lawmakers, “With numerous spokespersons in the Presidency, it is not the duty of the House Spokesman to embark on an unsolicited defense of the Executive.”
The statement also expressed concern that such actions reinforce public perceptions that the 10th House of Representatives is overly aligned with the Executive arm of government.
Citing Sections 14(2)(b) and 88 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the caucus emphasized that Parliament has a duty to safeguard the welfare and security of Nigerians while exposing corruption, inefficiency and waste in public administration.
At an emergency virtual meeting held on June 19, 2026, the Minority Caucus unanimously resolved to pursue the matter formally if its demand for an apology is ignored.
Beyond the controversy, the caucus announced plans to raise concerns over the implementation of the national budget when the House resumes plenary.
It alleged that defence and security-related Ministries, Departments and Agencies have recorded less than 30 per cent budget implementation since 2024, a situation it said has adversely affected security operations across the country.
“The Armed Forces cannot sustainably prosecute campaigns against heavily-armed insurgents under such fiscal constraints,” the lawmakers warned, linking delayed payments to contractors and inadequate logistics support to the worsening security situation.
Reaffirming its commitment to parliamentary oversight, the caucus insisted that speaking out on issues affecting Nigerians is a constitutional obligation rather than an act of partisanship.
“The Minority Caucus will keep speaking out for Nigerians, as the Constitution demands. That is not partisanship; it is parliamentary duty,” the statement concluded.
