President Bola Tinubu does not need to appear before the National Assembly to address concerns regarding the 2025 Appropriation Act [1].

The decision follows a rowdy session in Abuja where lawmakers debated whether to summon the president to explain the poor implementation of the national budget [2]. The tension highlights a growing rift between legislative oversight and executive accountability in Nigeria.

Deputy House of Representatives Spokesperson Philip Agbese said President Bola Tinubu does not need to appear before the House to address concerns over the implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act [1]. Agbese said that the responsibility for budget execution lies with other officials.

"Ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, and the Accountant‑General are responsible for budget execution and should account for public spending," Agbese said [3].

This budgetary friction comes as the National Assembly extends the capital component of the 2025 budget for a third time [4]. The deadline for the capital component has been moved from June 30, 2026, to Sept. 30, 2026 [4].

Some lawmakers argued during the session that the president should be summoned to explain the chaotic nature of the budget's rollout [2]. However, the official position from the deputy spokesperson maintains that the executive's operational heads, not the president himself, must be held accountable for spending failures [1].

The 2025 Appropriation Act [1] remains the center of the dispute as the government struggles to meet its capital expenditure goals within the original timeframe.

“President Bola Tinubu does not need to appear before the House to address concerns over the implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act.”

The decision to shield President Tinubu from appearing before the House shifts the political burden onto Nigeria's cabinet and administrative heads. By extending the budget's capital component for a third time, the National Assembly is providing a grace period for implementation, but the move may increase public scrutiny over the government's ability to execute its financial plans.