On Saturday, the House of Representatives’ Minority Caucus pledged to keep advocating for Nigerians. In a statement released by the caucus’s spokesperson, Hon. Victor Ogene, the opposition parties expressed disapproval of House spokesman Rep. Akin Rotimi’s response to the Minority Caucus’s justifiable concerns about the country’s growing insecurity and hardship.
The spokesperson for the Minority Caucus expressed serious concerns about the statement attributed to the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, arguing that “it is the constitutional duty of Parliament to hold the Executive to account, emphasising that the current President, while in opposition, rightly declared that ‘the buck stops at the President’s table” that the constitutional position has not changed.” Therefore, while the nation is bleeding, the legislature must never turn a blind eye.
The opposition members stressed that the Executive has consistently broken promises made to the Nigerian people by the Parliament. However, the House Spokesman has choose to defend the indefensible instead of calling for accountability.
“The Caucus firmly states that Parliament is not and will never be the Executive’s lapdog. Even if the Majority Caucus chooses to give in at the altar of blind partisanship, destroying the holy principle of checks and balances—which is essential to democracy—we will continue to speak for Nigerians.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Minority Caucus declares that it is extremely concerned by the House Spokesman’s procedural irregularity, which creates a risky precedent for parliamentary behaviour.
The use of the term “House Notes” in his statement is inappropriate, deceptive, and a blatant violation of members’ collective rights. For the record, the House last met on Monday, June 15, 2026. On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, the Minority Caucus spoke to the media. The House did not authorise a collective position on the issue through any future sitting, meeting, or resolution.
“The House Spokesman has no authority to claim to speak for the entire House or to misrepresent the opinions of the Minority Caucus, even while he is free to represent the Speaker, the House Leadership, or the Majority Caucus.
Such behaviour is an insult to the rights and privileges of members of the 10th House of Representatives and a blatant breach of established parliamentary procedure.
The National Assembly’s constitutional oversight powers over the Executive encompass the issues brought up by the Minority Caucus. The House Spokesman is not required to launch an uninvited defence of the Executive with so many spokespersons in the Presidency.
The public’s view of the 10th House as an extension of the Executive is strengthened by this behaviour. Parliament is required by Sections 14(2)(b) and 88 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to guarantee the safety and well-being of the populace and to reveal corruption, incompetence, and waste. The Minority Caucus will not abandon this important responsibility.
“The Minority Caucus unanimously decided the following during an emergency virtual meeting on Friday, June 19, 2026: to demand that the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs publicly apologise for contempt of the Minority Caucus and for misrepresenting the House’s position.
“The Caucus will have to petition the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for proper redress if such an apology is not made within 72 hours.
“To formally bring up the matter of the National Budget’s continuous non-implementation since 2024 upon the reopening of plenary. The Caucus is concerned that less than 30% of the budget has been implemented by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies that deal with defence and security.
“Local contractors’ unpaid invoices, operational logistical failures, and the nation’s growing insecurity are all directly related. Under such financial limits, the equipped Forces are unable to conduct campaigns against heavily equipped insurgents in a sustainable manner.
As required by the Constitution, the Minority Caucus will continue to advocate for Nigerians. That is parliamentary duty, not partisanship. Because of its sacred duty to the people, the legislature is the essence of democracy. Hon. Ogene stated, “The Minority Caucus will not continue to abdicate this sacred responsibility if the Majority Caucus chooses to forget this.”