A Failed Nigeria Is Evidence of a Failed National Assembly.
Why Blame the Contractor When the Supervisors Abandoned the Site?
Nigeria's Leadership Crisis: Why the National Assembly Must Share Responsibility for the Nation's Challenges
Public discussions about Nigeria's challenges often focus almost entirely on the President and the Executive Arm of Government. However, a closer look at the country's democratic structure reveals that governance is a shared responsibility, and many of the nation's persistent problems cannot be separated from the performance of the legislature.
Some political observers argue that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is essentially a contractor entrusted with managing the affairs of the Nigerian state on behalf of its citizens. In a democracy, government exists to serve the people, and elected officials are expected to exercise authority on behalf of those who elected them.
Democracy is commonly described as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Since over 200 million Nigerians cannot simultaneously participate in every legislative process, citizens elect representatives to speak and make decisions on their behalf. These representatives sit in the National Assembly, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Under Nigeria's constitutional democracy, the National Assembly occupies a critical position in governance. Beyond making laws, lawmakers are empowered to oversee government agencies, scrutinize public spending, approve budgets, investigate wrongdoing, and ensure that the Executive Branch remains accountable to the people.
For this reason, many constitutional scholars describe the legislature as the guardian of the public trust. Members of the National Assembly do not own the country in a personal sense; rather, they hold authority in trust for the Nigerian people. Their actions and decisions have a direct impact on national development, economic growth, security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and public welfare.
When a country functions effectively, the legislature often receives little attention because its oversight mechanisms are working as intended. However, when governance begins to fail, questions naturally arise about whether lawmakers are adequately carrying out their constitutional duties.
Critics argue that one of the reasons Nigeria continues to struggle with insecurity, unemployment, inflation, declining public services, and weak institutions is the inability of the legislature to consistently and independently hold the Executive accountable. They contend that oversight hearings, investigations, budget monitoring, and policy reviews should be stronger and more effective.
The Constitution provides lawmakers with significant powers to check executive excesses and ensure that government policies align with the interests of citizens. If these powers are not exercised vigorously, the balance intended by democratic governance can become weakened.
This perspective suggests that a nation in distress is not merely a reflection of executive failure but also an indication that the institutions responsible for oversight may not be performing optimally. The National Assembly is expected to regulate, monitor, and shape government activities through legislation and accountability measures that promote national development.
As a result, some analysts maintain that the country's current difficulties cannot be blamed solely on the President or the Executive Arm of Government. They argue that the legislature must equally accept responsibility for outcomes that emerge from inadequate oversight, weak enforcement of accountability measures, or failure to effectively represent the interests of citizens.
According to this viewpoint, Nigeria's present challenges reflect a broader institutional problem. The country is in disarray today not simply because of executive decisions, but because the legislative arm has not fully discharged its constitutional responsibility to act as an independent watchdog and defender of the people's interests.
Ultimately, a strong democracy depends on strong institutions. While presidents come and go, the effectiveness of a nation's legislature remains one of the most important indicators of democratic health. If Nigeria is to achieve sustainable development, strengthen its institutions, and restore public confidence in governance, both the Executive and the National Assembly must be held accountable for their respective roles in shaping the future of the nation.
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