Some members of the House of Representatives have declined bags of rice donated by David Umahi, Minister of Works, citing cumbersome and undignified conditions attached to the distribution process.
According to sources in the lower chamber who spoke to TheCable, lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the detailed procedure outlined in an internal memo circulated for collecting the 125 kg bags of rice.
The memo, seen by TheCable, required legislative aides to:Obtain special forms from the Speaker’s office
Present photocopies of their official identity cards
Secure written authorisation from their principals (the lawmakers)
Submit completed forms to the special adviser on finance for processing and validation
Collection was scheduled to begin today, Monday, January 26, 2026, at Garki International Market near the old Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) quarters, rather than within the National Assembly complex.
Lawmakers questioned the need for such rigorous screening for what they viewed as a simple goodwill gesture. One lawmaker remarked: “Why should lawmakers be subjected to this kind of screening before collecting bags of rice?”Others suggested redirecting the rice to vulnerable residents in Umahi’s home state of Ebonyi, where it could have greater impact.
The donation aligns with a longstanding practice where executive branch officials and ministries provide gifts, welfare items, or logistical support to lawmakers, particularly during festive periods to foster inter-arm cooperation.
However, the controversy has centered squarely on the bureaucratic hurdles for collection, not the act of donation itself.
No official response has been issued from Minister Umahi or the Ministry of Works regarding the lawmakers' rejection.
The development highlights sensitivities around protocol and dignity in interactions between the executive and legislature amid ongoing governance dynamics.
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