The House of Representatives on Wednesday was thrown into a rowdy session following sharp disagreements among lawmakers over the procedure to adopt a report by the House Committee on Public Accounts on the alleged non-remittance of about ₦16 trillion to the Federal Government by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The controversy erupted after the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, , presented a motion based on findings from the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report, which flagged discrepancies in government revenues collected through the Remita platform.
Moving the motion, Salam called for the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, to be invited to appear before the House to explain the alleged non-remittance. He stated that the apex bank has an undisputed liability of ₦5.2 trillion in unremitted operating surpluses owed to the Federal Government for the period between 2016 and 2022.
The motion sparked heated arguments on the floor as some lawmakers insisted the House should immediately invoke its constitutional powers to formally summon the CBN Governor to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to address the issues raised.
However, opposing lawmakers argued that an allegation involving as much as ₦16 trillion required Cardoso to appear before the Committee of the Whole, rather than a single committee, to ensure transparency and collective legislative oversight.
As tensions rose, proceedings degenerated into shouting and disorder, forcing the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, alongside other principal officers, to intervene and move around the chamber in a bid to restore calm.
Describing the conduct of members as unparliamentary, Speaker Abbas warned that lawmakers who persist in disorderly behavior risk being referred to the House Ethics and Privileges Committee. He emphasized that shouting and disruptions would not fast-track demands or strengthen arguments.
Following deliberations, the House resolved to mandate the Central Bank of Nigeria to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts on December 16, 2025, to provide explanations on the alleged non-remittance and other issues raised in the Auditor-General’s report.
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