AdvoKC slams N’Assembly over executive interference, budget extensions

File: National Assembly complex

A non-governmental organisation, AdvoKC Foundation, has criticised the 10th National Assembly over what it described as executive interference, budgetary irregularities and a lack of transparency in the legislature.

The organisation alleged that the National Assembly had failed to effectively perform its constitutional oversight functions, accusing lawmakers of prioritising executive-sponsored legislation while leaving several public-interest bills unattended.

In a statement signed by its Communications Manager, Luqman Adamu, AdvoKC said the National Assembly had increasingly acted in favour of the executive at the expense of Nigerians.

The foundation cited the state police bill as an example of legislation it said was fast-tracked through the legislative and constitutional processes, while bills such as the National Health Act Amendment Bill and the Special Seats Bill for women remained at the committee stage for months.

It further alleged that the executive’s decision to sponsor its own version of the Special Seats Bill raised concerns about the National Assembly’s commitment to independently advancing public-interest legislation.

AdvoKC also criticised the National Assembly’s handling of President Bola Tinubu’s four-week vacation in Europe, alleging that its leadership failed to properly enforce Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The organisation particularly faulted the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, for dismissing concerns over the President’s absence by saying there was “no vacancy in Aso Rock” and suggesting that governance could be conducted through internet instructions.

According to the foundation, the National Assembly’s resumption on September 29, 2026, further exposed what it described as a lack of legislative productivity.

It said both chambers had a single item on their Order Papers on the day, involving the extension of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act for the fourth consecutive time.

The extension moved the implementation deadline from September 30 to December 31, 2026.

AdvoKC described the development as an “unprecedented fiscal aberration,” arguing that the continued extension meant Nigeria was operating overlapping federal budgets late into 2026.

The foundation said repeated extensions of the 2025 budget undermined fiscal predictability and weakened the National Assembly’s constitutional responsibility to oversee public finances.

On transparency, AdvoKC said it submitted a Freedom of Information request in January 2026 seeking a detailed breakdown of the National Assembly’s statutory budget allocation and budget performance reports.

It alleged that the request received no response and disclosed that it had subsequently instituted legal proceedings against the National Assembly to compel the release of the information.

The organisation said it submitted another FOI request in June seeking lawmakers’ attendance, absence, apology and voting-participation records.

According to AdvoKC, the National Assembly rejected the request because attendance and voting records constituted “evidence of proceedings” requiring authorisation from the Senate President, Speaker or a relevant committee chairman before release.

The foundation said withholding such information undermined citizens’ ability to assess the performance of their elected representatives.

Speaking on the matter, AdvoKC Project Director, Habib Sheidu, said the National Assembly was elected to represent Nigerians and should not operate as an extension of the Presidency.

“The 10th National Assembly was elected to represent the sovereign will of the Nigerian people, not to function as a legislative secretariat for the Presidency,” Sheidu said.

He added that the organisation would continue its legal action over the FOI request and urged Nigerians to hold lawmakers accountable as the country approaches the next electoral cycle.

AdvoKC also called on the judiciary to uphold the rule of law in its ongoing case seeking disclosure of information from the National Assembly.