The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Capital Territory Area Councils and Ancillary Matters has summoned the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Bunkure, for failing to appear before it to defend the 2025 FCT budget.
The Minister is now expected to appear before the committee on Tuesday, 27 May 2025.
Committee Chairman and member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, Fredrick Agbedi, issued the summons in Abuja after only three of the fourteen agencies under the Minister’s supervision turned up for the budget defence session.
Agbedi condemned Dr Bunkure’s absence, warning that the National Assembly may be compelled to invoke its constitutional powers should she fail to appear on Tuesday.
He recalled that President Bola Tinubu had urged lawmakers to fast-track work on the national budget.
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Expressing concern over what he described as the Minister’s neglect of a matter of national importance, Agbedi noted that both the Minister and all relevant agencies were duly invited and officially notified of the session.
“The committee speaks directly to the needs and concerns of FCT residents and indigenes,” he said. “This committee is vital to the people of the FCT. The Minister must appear before us tomorrow.”
Also speaking, Paul Kalejaiye, who represents Ajeromi Ifelodun Federal Constituency in Lagos State, described the Minister’s absence as a slight on the National Assembly. He warned that the committee might have no choice but to exercise its full constitutional powers if the Minister fails to honour the summons.
