Reps Deputy Speaker Rules Minority Leader Out Of Order During Heated Tuition Debate

A disagreement erupted in the House of Representatives on Thursday as Minority Leader Fred Agbedi challenged Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu over a proposed one-year tuition fee waiver for students in federal tertiary institutions.

The confrontation occurred after Kalu invited the House Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, to address lawmakers on the proposal, even though its sponsor, Ahmed Satomi, had withdrawn the motion for further consultation.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Agbedi objected to the move, arguing that the House could not proceed with deliberations on a motion that had already been stepped down. He cited Order 8, Statute 1, which governs the arrangement of business in the chamber, and described the decision to invite Ihonvbere as a breach of parliamentary procedure.

Agbedi also questioned the necessity of the proposed tuition waiver, maintaining that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) Act already provided a framework for supporting students financially. He warned that a government-funded tuition payment programme for all Nigerian students could conflict with the existing legislation signed by President Bola Tinubu.

The minority leader insisted that inviting the House Leader to discuss a matter no longer formally before the chamber was inconsistent with the House’s rules.

However, Kalu rejected the objection and ruled Agbedi out of order, repeating his decision as the disagreement unfolded during plenary.

Earlier, Satomi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Borno State, explained that he had consulted Ihonvbere, who addressed some concerns surrounding the proposed waiver. He subsequently decided to step down the motion to allow further consultations.

Following the exchange, Kalu invited Ihonvbere to brief lawmakers on the performance of NELFUND since the scheme commenced operations.

Ihonvbere disclosed that the fund had disbursed ₦372.6 billion to students and tertiary institutions as of September 29, 2026. He said ₦192.9 billion had been paid directly to institutions to cover tuition fees, while ₦79.7 billion had been disbursed to students as monthly upkeep allowances.

According to the House Leader, NELFUND had received more than 2.3 million applications, with 319 institutions participating in the programme and approximately 1.66 million students benefiting from the scheme.

He urged lawmakers to educate their constituents about the initiative and encourage eligible students to apply, adding that the application process could be completed online without personal connections or visits to government offices.

Satomi had proposed the one-year emergency tuition fee waiver in response to the rising cost of living following the Federal Government’s economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy.

The lawmaker argued that increasing expenses for food, transportation, accommodation and electricity had placed considerable pressure on parents and guardians struggling to finance their children’s education.

He warned that students in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education could be forced to abandon or postpone their studies because their families could no longer afford tuition and other compulsory charges.

Satomi also expressed concern that financial barriers to education could worsen youth unemployment, inequality and social instability. He described education as a key driver of national development, poverty reduction and social mobility.

The proposal called for temporary financial relief for eligible students in federal universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other federal tertiary institutions. It also urged federal and state governments to ensure that any relief programme was time-bound, adequately funded and regularly reviewed without compromising educational quality or long-term sustainability.

Following the disagreement and the need for further consultations, the House stepped down the tuition waiver motion, leaving the proposal for additional consideration.