By Gloria Ikibah
Tension flared in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as members engaged in a heated debate over which committee should take charge of investigating alleged irregularities surrounding the allocation and management of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
The dispute arose after Rep. Ademorin Kuye moved a motion of urgent public importance, seeking an inquiry into reports of unauthorised sales and mismanagement of government assets at the complex. suggesting that the Committee on Public Assets should spearhead the investigation. 
However, this proposal was challenged by the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Francis Waive, who argued that the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce. His objection triggered a series of exchanges among lawmakers, each side defending the oversight powers of their respective committees.
The debate intensified as Rep. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi cited the House Standing Orders, specifically Order 109, Rules 1 and 2, to support the argument that all federal government properties, including the Lagos Trade Fair Complex, fall within the purview of the Committee on Public Assets.
According to Gagdi, the complex remains a federal property, and oversight responsibility should therefore rest with the Public Assets Committee rather than Commerce.
The chamber remained divided as members continued to argue the merits of both positions, highlighting broader concerns about committee jurisdictions and accountability in the management of national assets.
“If you check Order 109, it clearly states that the Committee on Public Assets oversees ministries and agencies charged with the management and disposal of public assets. The Lagos Trade Fair is one of such public assets,” Gagdi said.
However, Rep. Mark Esset disagreed, insisting that the Trade Fair Complex falls under the purview of the Committee on Commerce.
“Trade fair is not a public asset being sold. It is a commercial entity, and the House Rules on page 153 clearly list it under the functions of the Committee on Commerce. If the House has made a mistake by its earlier decision, we have the powers to reverse it,” Esset stated.
Amid the escalating argument, the Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Ali Isa J.C., urged his colleagues to exercise restraint and adhere to procedure. He suggested the creation of a joint committee, proposing that the Committee on Commerce take the lead, with the Committee on Public Assets and other relevant committees participating. However, the motion failed to receive a seconder and did not progress.
Rep. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi later proposed a different approach, supporting a joint committee but insisting that the Committee on Public Assets should lead the inquiry since the issue centred on the ownership and potential sale of federal property.
He argued that while the activities at the complex relate to commerce, the underlying matter involved public assets belonging to the Federal Government.
Adding a new twist, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Rep. James Shai Wubarka, informed the chamber that his committee had already begun oversight work on the complex, including two visits to Lagos. He cautioned that reassigning the investigation would undermine his committee’s ongoing efforts and encroach on its jurisdiction.
As tensions mounted, the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu stepped in to restore order, clarifying that the motion before the House concerned the allocation of the premises used for trade fairs rather than the commercial operations themselves. To end the deadlock, the Deputy Speaker ruled that an ad hoc committee made up of members from both the Public Assets and Commerce Committees would be set up to conduct a joint investigation.
Despite the ruling, disagreements persisted, and when the main motion was eventually put to a voice vote, it was rejected by the majority. The development led to a noisy and tense session, forcing the Deputy Speaker to call for calm. The House later went into a closed-door meeting to address the dispute and chart a way forward.
