ABUJA — A significant row has erupted in the House of Representatives as several lawmakers formally rejected a donation of rice from the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, describing the gesture and its attached conditions as “demeaning” and “unnecessary.”
The controversy, which reached a flashpoint on Monday, January 26, 2026, stems from an internal memo circulated within the lower legislative chamber regarding the collection of five 25kg bags of rice allocated to each of the 360 members. Legislators expressed outrage over what they termed “stringent and cumbersome” requirements, which included a mandate for legislative aides to obtain special forms from the Speaker’s office, provide photocopies of official identity cards, and present written authorization from their principals.
Further fueling the anger was the designated collection point: a private shop located at the Garki International Market. Lawmakers argued that routing elected officials to a public market to receive a minor food donation was a “calculated insult” to the dignity of the National Assembly. Rep. Afam Ogene, a prominent voice in the chamber, remarked that if the Minister truly wished to show appreciation for the legislature, he should have prioritized the construction of roads in their federal constituencies rather than distributing bags of rice.
“It is undignified to ask a lawmaker to go through this level of screening for five bags of rice,” one member stated. “If the Ministry has excess funds, it should be channeled into the 2026 ‘Action Year’ road projects rather than these demeaning political gifts.”
As of Monday afternoon, many lawmakers have directed their aides to ignore the collection forms, with some suggesting that the Minister should instead redirect the food items to internally displaced persons (IDPs) or vulnerable communities in the North-East. The Ministry of Works has yet to issue a formal response to the mass rejection of the gift.
