ABUJA, Nigeria — Renowned political economist Professor Pat Utomi has launched a blistering critique of the 10th National Assembly, describing it as a “cost without benefit” to the Nigerian people.
In a statement on Monday, Utomi lamented the lack of legislative oversight regarding the potential “Hormuz windfall”—the expected surge in oil revenue resulting from the ongoing naval blockade and global energy crisis. He argued that under normal circumstances, the legislature should be crafting laws to prevent the squandering of such excess funds, but dismissed the current body under Senate President Godswill Akpabio as effectively non-existent.
“If we had a NASS I would suggest laws that would checkmate the squandering of Hormuz windfall,” Utomi stated. “But the Akpabio Assembly does not exist. In Cost-Benefit terms, the 10th Assembly is all costs, no benefit to the Nigerian people.”
The critique highlights growing frustration with the legislature’s perceived subservience to the executive branch, particularly as the nation grapples with record-high debt and allegations of reckless public spending. Utomi’s remarks echo a broader sentiment among civil society leaders who view the current National Assembly as a “rubber stamp” that has failed to act as a check on the Tinubu administration’s fiscal policies.
The Senate has yet to issue an official response to the professor’s comments, which come at a time when lawmakers are under fire for approving multi-billion dollar loans amidst a deepening cost-of-living crisis.
