ILORIN — Former Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has criticized the lack of independence in the legislative arm of government, warning that a parliament existing merely to rubber-stamp executive requests has completely failed its constitutional purpose.
Saraki made the assertions during a public lecture on governance and democratic stability, amid ongoing public debates over the relationship between the presidency and the National Assembly regarding rapid loan approvals and budget scrutiny.
The former lawmaker, who led the 8th National Assembly through a period of intense institutional independence, stated that the core essence of the legislature is to act as a rigorous check on the executive branch to prevent dictatorship and financial recklessness.
“A legislature that cannot say no is not a legislature at all,” Saraki declared. “A legislature which simply receives executive proposals, approves them without scrutiny, and goes home has not fulfilled its constitutional mandate.”
He emphasized that constitutional oversight requires lawmakers to thoroughly debate, critique, and amend executive bills where necessary rather than rushing approvals for the sake of political alignment. Saraki maintained that the complete absence of robust debate in parliament weakens public trust in democracy and undermines national development.
The remarks have reignited conversations among political analysts and civil society groups, who have frequently described the current legislative leadership as an institution that fails to challenge executive policies despite widespread public concern over the state of the economy and national security.
