Saraki Warns: National Assembly Now a Shadow of Itself
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has raised alarm over the declining strength and relevance of Nigeria’s National Assembly, warning that it is “gradually becoming a shadow of what a virile and effective parliament should be.”
In a Democracy Day statement, Saraki criticised what he described as sustained attempts to weaken the legislature, blaming both the executive and the judiciary for undermining the institution’s independence.
“We all need to realise that by its nature, its role and character, the parliament is created to say the truth to power and scrutinise what the executive is doing,” Saraki said.
He cited the presidency’s interference in the leadership selection of the National Assembly as a key example of this growing encroachment.
“From interference in its choice of leadership, misunderstanding its oversight role, and taking its occasional ‘No’ as being antagonistic, the National Assembly has often come under unwarranted and systemic attack,” he stated.
According to Saraki, the legislature is no longer operating as an autonomous branch of government.
“Sometimes, it will agree with the executive actions and proposals. Other times, it may disagree. One good thing is that its agreement or disagreement should always be in the protection of national interest—not that of personal or partisan interest,” he noted.
He urged current lawmakers to resist these pressures and work to reclaim the National Assembly’s rightful role in governance. For him, the strength of any democracy lies in the ability of the legislature to provide checks and balances without fear or favour.
Saraki warned of potential consequences if the trend continues unchecked. If the public begins to lose confidence in their representatives’ ability to challenge power and hold leaders accountable, they may resort to street protests—putting democracy itself at risk.
“The National Assembly should continue to be open to the people who have grievances or opinions on issues to ventilate their views, whether rational, irrational, positive, or sometimes, negative,” he said.
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