Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABUJA — A routine parliamentary review of the Ministry of Works’ 2026 budget estimate on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, erupted into a tense confrontation that drew national attention after Works Minister David Umahi and Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) exchanged sharp words on the floor of the National Assembly. The incident occurred during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Works, with proceedings briefly disrupted by heated exchanges among lawmakers before order was restored.
The atmosphere turned fractious shortly after Umahi presented the ministry’s proposed ₦3.244 trillion capital budget for the fiscal year, outlining allocations for major highway projects and infrastructure priorities. What began as standard questioning soon spilled into open disagreement over procedural decorum and speaking time. During his contributions, Oshiomhole took exception to what he described as perceived interruptions, prompting him to challenge the manner in which parts of the session were being conducted.
A widely circulated video from the session shows Oshiomhole asserting his right to fuller participation, saying, “You are not entitled to interrupt me,” in apparent reference to interventions from committee leaders and colleagues. In response, Umahi, visibly agitated by the tone of the exchange, retorted, “You can’t use foul language on me. I’m a distinguished Nigerian,” a comment that briefly intensified the tension in the chamber. Lawmakers presiding at the session had to intervene to calm the situation before the budget review could proceed.
The budget defence was being chaired by Senator Rufai Hanga (Kano Central), the vice‑chair of the Senate Committee on Works, who was filling in for the committee’s absent chairman. Shortly after the altercation involving Oshiomhole and Umahi, Hanga himself became embroiled in a separate dispute with Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (S‑Ebonyi North) over speaking time and procedural authority, illustrating broader tensions among lawmakers during the session. In that exchange, Nwaebonyi insisted on additional time to address the committee after Hanga asked him to conclude his remarks, leading to a brief shouting match that had to be moderated by colleagues.
Several senators and representatives intervened to defuse both confrontations. Among them, Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) and Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) played visible roles in calming heated exchanges and encouraging a return to orderly proceedings. Meanwhile, Representative Akin Alabi, Chairman of the House Committee on Works, also contributed to de‑escalating tensions as lawmakers navigated a session marked by competing questions, praise for the ministry’s achievements and critical scrutiny of budgeting priorities.
The outbursts underscore the intensity of legislative oversight in Nigeria’s National Assembly, especially as it relates to fiscal scrutiny and executive accountability. The Works Ministry’s budget defence touched on high‑stakes issues, including substantial capital allocations for critical road networks such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, the management of existing project liabilities, and the pace of infrastructure delivery under the current administration.
Beyond the immediate exchange between Umahi and Oshiomhole, the session reflected broader frictions within the committee setting. Lawmakers pressed the minister on project delivery timelines, cost overruns, and the impact of macroeconomic pressures on infrastructural development. Umahi reiterated the ministry’s commitment to completing legacy projects and assured legislators that funding sources, including domestic bond markets, would be leveraged to meet financial requirements where federal allocations are insufficient.
For his part, Oshiomhole’s intervention appears to have centred on procedural fairness and speaking rights rather than specific policy objections — although his remarks in the chamber echoed broader debates within the APC about legislative influence and party dynamics. The clash between Umahi and Oshiomhole, both senior figures within the ruling party, drew attention to the sometimes fraught relationship between executive agencies and lawmakers during scrutiny of budget proposals.
The session ultimately continued with the usual legislative oversight functions, but the exchanges were widely reported and discussed on social platforms, illustrating how procedural disputes can shape public perceptions of legislative‑executive interactions in Nigeria’s democratic context. In the coming weeks, lawmakers are expected to review and reconcile the Works Ministry’s budget proposal as part of the broader 2026 appropriation process, with the potential for further debate and amendment.
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