Drama in Senate as lawmakers clash during budget defence

By JOHN ALECHENU

A mild drama unfolded on Wednesday during the 2026 budget defence of the Ministry of Works in the Senate, prompting some legislators to stage a walk out.

The budget defence session was chaired by Senator Hanga, Vice Chairman of the Senate Works Committee, who stood in for the substantive Chairman, Mpigi Barinada (Rivers South East), who was indisposed.

The session started on a jovial note with presentations made by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, followed by questions and observations from Senators and Members of the House of Representatives.

Trouble, however, started when a verbal dispute between the Deputy Senate Whip, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi (APC, Ebonyi) and the Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Hanga (NNPP, Kano), snowballed into a shouting match among Senators during the hearing.

Nwaebonyi was making his remarks which some committee members considered too patronizing of the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, who many believe is his political benefactor.

The Ebonyi State federal lawmaker urged his colleagues to commend Umahi and President Bola Tinubu for the good job they are doing in the road sector. Senator Hanga intervened by asking him to round off his submission.

Irked by Hanga’s caution, Nwaebonyi yelled at him, saying, “You cannot stop me from speaking after allowing Senator Adams Oshiomhole(Edo North), to talk for 15 solid minutes.

“Please don’t interrupt me because you allowed Senator Oshiomhole to spend not less than 15 minutes to make his remarks, observations and ask questions without any interruption.

“I’ve barely spent about 5 minutes and you are telling me to round off. I won’t and for your information, as a ranking presiding officer, I can takeover proceedings of this session from you.”

Angered by Nwaebonyi’s response, Senator Hanga yelled back by telling him he lacked such powers and went on to hit the gavel to stamp his authority over the proceedings.

Hanga’s action further infuriated Nwaebonyi who angrily retorted “I’m a ranking Senator of the ruling party that cannot be ruled against by a minority senator.”

Hanga responded by informing Nwaebonyi that the votes that brought him to Senate in June 2023, were 10 times higher than the one Nwaebonyi got from his Ebonyi North Senatorial District.

An attempt by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) to calm frayed nerves was rebuffed by Nwaebonyi who angrily shouted at his colleagues and stormed out of the venue.

Normalcy was, however, restored to the proceedings after comments by Senators Ali Ndume (Borno South), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) among others.

Before the incident, the Minister of Works had, in his response to alleged poor job on Abuja-Kaduna-Zaira-Kano Road, challenged the committee members for on-the-spot assessment of the project, saying he will resign, if found not up to standard.

He said out of N3.245 trillion capital vote earmarked for the ministry in 2026 budget, N760 billion are for new projects, spread across the six geo-political zones of the country.

The new projects, according to him, are different from the four legacy projects, and the added Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri road.

He assured the committee members that the N7 trillion needed for completion of road projects withdrawn from by NNPCL, would be sourced from domestic market bond.

Umahi told lawmakers that the ministry’s 2026 capital budget will prioritise the completion of major highways and four “legacy” projects initiated by the Presidency. (Vanguard)

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