A fresh crisis is unfolding in the House of Representatives as lawmakers prepare for a heated confrontation with the Speaker, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, when plenary resumes on September 23, 2025.
According to findings, some aggrieved members are compiling a list of alleged “injustices” committed by the House leadership. Their grievances include complaints of being sidelined in decision-making, exclusion from recruitment exercises, and the perceived inequitable sharing of privileges.
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Lawmakers Fume Over Secret Recruitment
Tensions escalated after lawmakers discovered that the National Assembly Commission (NASC) recently recruited 785 new staff across Grade Levels 8 to 12. The induction, which took place in Abuja on August 24, reportedly shocked many lawmakers who alleged they were not carried along in the process.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana—represented by Deputy Clerk Engineer Bashir Yero—announced the new appointments during the induction ceremony.
Infuriated lawmakers immediately took to the House’s WhatsApp platform, questioning how such a large-scale recruitment could happen without their knowledge or input. Some accused the Speaker and House leadership of reserving job slots for their loyalists while denying members the chance to nominate candidates from their constituencies.
One angry lawmaker lamented:
“We couldn’t even get a single slot for our constituencies. This is unfair and a betrayal of our loyalty.”
Budget Implementation and Insecurity Add to Anger
Beyond the recruitment saga, a separate caucus of lawmakers has voiced concerns over poor budget implementation, alleged selective project funding, and the worsening security crisis in northern Nigeria.
In a message to colleagues, the convener of the caucus urged unity, saying lawmakers must confront issues of “non-performing budgets, unfair distribution of projects, and the ongoing killings in the North.”
However, his reference to alleged project concentration in the South-West sparked sharp pushback from colleagues, who warned against politicizing regional differences. Many stressed that the priority should remain on members’ welfare, delayed payments to local contractors, and national insecurity.
Fear of 2027 Political Risks
Some lawmakers expressed fears that their inability to deliver tangible projects to their constituencies could affect their re-election prospects in 2027. With party primaries around the corner, many admitted they were unable to even return home during the recess due to lack of funds.
One lawmaker noted:
“If we don’t push for proper budget funding and support for local contractors, we risk completing our four-year tenure with nothing to show our people.”
House Leadership Silent
Efforts to obtain a response from the House leadership proved unsuccessful. Calls and messages to the spokesman, Akin Rotimi, went unanswered.
However, a source close to the leadership dismissed the lawmakers’ complaints as exaggerated. The source questioned whether the disgruntled members were opposing merit-based recruitment or merely angry because they were unable to secure job slots for their loyalists.
“If they have genuine grievances, the right platform is the floor of the House or a press conference—not secret complaints,” the source added.
As tensions rise, the September 23 resumption date is expected to set the stage for a potential showdown between Speaker Abbas and his disenchanted colleagues.