Tempers flared at the National Assembly on Wednesday as Minister of Works Dave Umahi defended his ministry’s proposed N3.4 trillion 2026 budget before a Joint Committee, with proceedings descending into chaos following sharp exchanges between lawmakers.
The session turned heated when Senator Adams Oshiomhole confronted the minister over the controversial reassignment of the Abuja Kaduna Road project from construction giant Julius Berger to lesser known firm, MAIKANO.
Lawmakers questioned the transparency and capacity behind the decision, sparking a tense back and forth that disrupted the hearing. In response, Umahi threw down a challenge to members of the National Assembly, urging them to personally inspect the project.
The minister vowed to resign if the road project is found to be substandard, insisting the reassignment followed due process and was in the public interest.
Drama escalated further when Senator Onyekachi Nwoebonyi clashed openly with Committee Chairman Rufai Hanga after being stopped midway through his submission. The disagreement quickly degenerated into a shouting match, forcing attempts to restore order as voices rose across the chamber.
Beyond the confrontation over contracts, Umahi disclosed troubling funding constraints facing the ministry. He revealed that only 9 per cent of the ministry’s 2025 capital budget has so far been released, raising concerns about the pace of ongoing infrastructure projects nationwide.
The minister also told lawmakers that the Federal Government currently owes contractors over N2.2 trillion, a backlog he said continues to hamper project delivery and completion timelines.
According to him, the government requires about N7 trillion to fund inherited projects and those executed under tax credit arrangements, underscoring the scale of financial commitments confronting the Works Ministry.
The chaotic session highlights mounting tensions between the executive and legislature over infrastructure spending, contract transparency and funding shortfalls, as the National Assembly scrutinises the proposed N3.4 trillion allocation for 2026.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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