The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has declared that the Parliament is not, and would never be a lapdog of the Executive.
The minority caucus stated this in a statement issued Saturday by Hon. Afam Ogene, while responding to the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akin Rotimi, in which he purported to speak for the “House” in response to the legitimate concerns raised by the Caucus on the state of insecurity and worsening hardship in the nation.
That caucus, however, maintained that it would 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 Minority Caucus reminded Rotimi that it is the constitutional duty of Parliament to hold the Executive to account, emphasizing that the current President, while in opposition, rightly declared that _“the buck stops at the President’s table.”
It said that the constitutional position has not changed, thus, the legislature must never look away when the country bleeds.
It added: “The Executive has repeatedly failed to honour commitments made to the Nigerian people through the Parliament. But 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.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Minority Caucus states as follows: The Minority Caucus views with grave concern the procedural impropriety exhibited by the House Spokesman, which 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, 15th June, 2026. The Minority Caucus addressed the media on Wednesday, 17th June, 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.”
The minority caucus explained that the matter it raised falls within the constitutional oversight functions of the National Assembly over the Executive.
The caucus said: “With numerous spokespersons in the Presidency, it is not the duty of the House Spokesman to embark on an unsolicited defense of the Executive.
“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.”
The caucus, therefore, demanded a public apology from Rotimi for misrepresenting the position of the House and for contempt of the Minority Caucus.
It said failure to render such an apology within 72 hours would compel the Caucus to petition the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for appropriate redress.
Upon resumption of plenary, the caucus hinted that it would raise the issue of persistent non-implementation of the National Budget since 2024.
The Caucus raised the alarm that defense and security-related Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have recorded less than 30 per cent budget implementation.
It noted that there is a direct correlation between the non-payment of local contractors, breakdowns of operational logistics, and escalating insecurity across the country.
The caucus added that the Armed Forces can not sustainably prosecute campaigns against heavily-armed insurgents under such fiscal constraints.