Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has ruled a prayer seeking to invite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appear before the House of Representatives out of order, declaring that the request was not part of the original motion moved by Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh. The ruling was delivered during plenary after a lawmaker attempted to introduce an additional prayer beyond the scope of the motion already before the House.
The decision immediately drew attention to the importance of parliamentary procedure in the National Assembly, with the Speaker emphasizing that legislative debates and resolutions must strictly follow the provisions of the original motion unless properly amended in line with the Standing Orders of the House.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas Rules Tinubu Invitation Out of Order During House Debate
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas explained that the prayer to invite President Tinubu could not be entertained because it did not form part of the substantive motion sponsored by Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh. He maintained that allowing such an addition without following due parliamentary process would violate the House’s rules governing legislative proceedings.
The ruling underscored the Speaker’s constitutional responsibility to enforce the Standing Orders and ensure that debates remain focused on matters formally presented before lawmakers.
By declaring the prayer out of order, he reaffirmed that legislative business must be conducted according to established procedures rather than ad hoc proposals raised during debate.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas Stops Fresh Push to Summon Tinubu as Lawmakers Debate Procedure
The decision by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas highlights the structured nature of proceedings in the House of Representatives, where every motion, amendment and resolution is expected to comply with parliamentary rules. Although lawmakers have the right to propose amendments or introduce additional prayers, such proposals must satisfy procedural requirements before they can be considered by the House.
Constitutionally, the National Assembly exercises oversight over the executive arm of government and may invite public officials to provide explanations on matters of national importance. However, parliamentary experts note that requests involving the President often require careful adherence to legislative procedure because of their constitutional and political significance. In this instance, the Speaker’s ruling addressed only the procedural validity of the prayer and not the broader question of whether the President could be invited under different circumstances.
As deliberations continue on issues of national interest, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has once again reinforced the principle that parliamentary order and due process remain the foundation of legislative decision-making in the House of Representatives. The ruling serves as a reminder that adherence to procedure is essential to maintaining the credibility, fairness and integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process.
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