The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has faulted a statement credited to the House Spokesman, Hon. Akin Rotimi, in which he purportedly responded to concerns raised by opposition lawmakers over the state of insecurity and worsening hardship in the nation.
The caucus, in a statement by its spokesperson, Hon. Afam Ogene, demanded a public apology from Rotimi for misrepresenting the position of the House and for showing contempt for the Minority Caucus.
The caucus said that failure to tender such an apology within 72 hours would compel it to petition the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for appropriate redress.
Rotimi had, in a statement on Friday, reminded the Minority Caucus that it remains an integral part of government within the legislative arm of the state and that Parliament collectively bears responsibility for lawmaking, oversight, and appropriation, and is therefore jointly accountable for strengthening national security outcomes.
According to him, the obligation to offer solutions, strengthen institutions, and support effective policy implementation is a shared responsibility, not one divided along caucus lines.
However, the opposition lawmakers, in a statement issued on Saturday, reminded the House spokesman that it is the constitutional duty of Parliament to hold the Executive accountable, noting that the current President, while in opposition, rightly declared that “the buck stops at the President’s table.”
“That constitutional position has not changed. Thus, the legislature must never look away when the country bleeds.
“The opposition lawmakers emphasized that the Executive has repeatedly failed to honour commitments made to the Nigerian people through Parliament. Yet, rather than demand accountability, the House spokesman has chosen to defend the indefensible.
“The Caucus declares unequivocally that 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 statement read in part.
The Minority Caucus further expressed concern over what it described as the procedural impropriety exhibited by the House spokesman, saying it sets a dangerous precedent for parliamentary conduct.
“The deployment of the phrase ‘House Notes’ in his statement is improper, misleading, and constitutes a flagrant breach of the collective privileges of members. For the record, the last sitting of the House was on Monday, June 15, 2026.
“The Minority Caucus addressed the media on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. No subsequent sitting, meeting, or resolution of the House was convened to authorise a collective position on the matter.
“While the House spokesman is at liberty to speak for the Speaker, the House leadership, or the Majority Caucus, he possesses no mandate to purport to speak for the entire House or to misappropriate the views of the Minority Caucus. Such conduct is a clear violation of established parliamentary procedure and an affront to the rights and privileges of members of the 10th House of Representatives.
“This conduct reinforces public perception of the 10th House as an appendage of the Executive. Sections 14(2)(b) and 88 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) mandate Parliament to ensure the security and welfare of the people and to expose corruption, inefficiency, and waste. The Minority Caucus will not abdicate this sacred duty.
“At an emergency virtual meeting held on Friday, June 19, 2026, the Minority Caucus unanimously resolved as follows: to demand a public apology from the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs for misrepresenting the position of the House and for showing contempt for the Minority Caucus.
“Failure to tender such an apology within 72 hours will compel the caucus to petition the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for appropriate redress.
“To formally raise, upon the resumption of plenary, the issue of persistent non-implementation of the national budget since 2024. The caucus notes with alarm that defence and security-related ministries, departments, and agencies have recorded less than 30 per cent budget implementation.
“There is a direct correlation between the non-payment of local contractors, the breakdown of operational logistics, and escalating insecurity across the country. The Armed Forces cannot sustainably prosecute campaigns against heavily armed insurgents under such fiscal constraints.
“The Minority Caucus will keep speaking out for Nigerians, as the Constitution demands. That is not partisanship; it is parliamentary duty. The legislature is the soul of democracy because of its sacred responsibility to the people. If the Majority Caucus chooses to forget this, the Minority Caucus will not abdicate this sacred responsibility,” the statement added.
