The hallmark of a functional democracy is the sacred doctrine of the separation of powers. In Nigeria’s presidential system, the National Assembly—specifically the Senate—is constitutionally mandated to serve as a formidable bulwark against executive overreach, financial recklessness, and authoritarian tendencies. However, under the stewardship of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the red chamber has systematically dismantled this democratic safeguard. Rather than operating as a co-equal, independent arm of government, the Senate has degenerated into a compliant rubber stamp for the executive. This deep-seated subservience has transformed the legislature from a defender of the electorate into an institutional adversary of the struggling Nigerian masses.
The primary mechanism through which the legislature protects the populace is rigorous oversight. Under Akpabio’s leadership, this vital function has been effectively suspended in deference to Aso Rock. The speed and lack of scrutiny with which the Senate processes executive requests have reached unprecedented and alarming levels.
Massive external borrowing requests, which threaten to bury future generations of Nigerians under an insurmountable mountain of debt, are routinely fast-tracked through the plenary with minimal debate. Constitutional provisions demanding deep fiscal scrutiny are treated as mere formalities, as loan approvals are passed without clear repayment plans or transparent asset mapping. Furthermore, the screening of executive nominees for critical national institutions has devolved into a theatrical display. The infamous “bow and go” tradition, once used sparingly for distinguished former lawmakers, has become a blanket exemption for politically connected individuals, shielding them from rigorous questioning regarding their competence, integrity, or vision for the country.
Perhaps the most glaring evidence of this subservience is the handling of the national budget. The Senate has consistently failed to protect the public treasury from executive distortion, choosing instead to collaborate in fiscal opacity. Whistleblowers within the hallowed chambers, who dare to expose discrepancies, such as the multi-trillion Naira budget-padding allegations, are swiftly targeted, vilified, and suspended.
By crushing internal dissent, the leadership ensures that the budget remains a tool for elitist enrichment rather than a roadmap for national development. Unclear, vaguely defined line items are routinely passed, while capital allocations for critical sectors like public healthcare, education, and rural infrastructure are chronically underfunded or completely ignored. This collusion deprives the citizen of their right to economic growth.
This legislative subservience exists alongside a profound, unsettling detachment from the daily realities of the Nigerian people. As the executive enforces severe, unmitigated economic reforms—including the chaotic removal of fuel subsidies and the aggressive devaluation of the Naira—inflation has soared, pushing tens of millions of citizens into extreme poverty and food insecurity.
Yet, while the masses are repeatedly urged to “endure the hardships” for a better future, the Akpabio-led Senate vigorously insulates itself from the economic storm. The procurement of multi-million Naira, imported luxury SUVs for lawmakers amidst a national revenue crisis stands as a monument to institutional greed. While public hospitals lack basic consumables and civil servants strike for a living wage, billions of Naira are continuously funneled into the comfort, renovation, and security of the legislative elite. The optical contrast between public misery and senatorial luxury is an indictment of the current political order.
Beyond fiscal negligence, the tone from the Senate leadership has been marked by a deeply offensive elitist apathy. Public gaffes and mockingly tone-deaf remarks broadcast from the Senate floor—such as joking about “letting the poor breathe” or flippantly announcing that “prayers” had been sent to lawmakers’ mailboxes for holidays—reveal a leadership that views public suffering with detachment, if not outright amusement.
When citizens take to the streets to protest bad governance, economic hardship, and systemic corruption, the Senate routinely abdicates its role as the mediator of the people. Instead of demanding accountability from executive security agencies or pushing for immediate economic palliatives, the red chamber consistently aligns with executive crackdowns, issuing statements that delegitimize civic dissent and protect the status quo. By silencing the public outcry, the Senate removes the safety valve of democracy.
A legislature that exists merely to validate the whims of the executive ceases to be a parliament; it becomes an accomplice to autocracy. The Akpabio-led Senate, through its unquestioning compliance, financial profligacy, and blatant disregard for public agony, has compromised its democratic mandate. By choosing the favour of the executive over the survival of the electorate, it has positioned itself as an impediment to national progress. For Nigeria to navigate its current socio-economic crises, the Senate must urgently reclaim its independence, reinstate rigorous checks and balances, and remember that its ultimate loyalty belongs to the sovereign citizens of Nigeria, not the occupants of executive power.
Prince Ben AHANONU,
Spokesperson,
AlaIgbo Political Watchdog.