Nigerian legislature impotent, says Buhari’s ex-Minister

The former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has described Nigeria legislative arm of government as “impotent,” saying it had failed to hold the executive accountable. Shittu said this on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while delivering a lecture at an event organised by the Ogun State government to mark the 2022 international students’ day celebration. […]

The former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has described Nigeria legislative arm of government as “impotent,” saying it had failed to hold the executive accountable.

Shittu said this on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while delivering a lecture at an event organised by the Ogun State government to mark the 2022 international students’ day celebration.

The event which was organised by the office of the Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Students’ matters, Azeez Adeyemi held at the June 12 cultural centre, Kuto.

Shittu said Nigerian legislators have failed in their responsibilities and now at the mercy of the executive.

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Speaking on the topic: “The role of students in ensuring accountability and tranquility in public office”, the former Minister said the failure of the legislature should spur the youths to engage in active politics and also hold the leaders accountable.

Shittu said, “The main reason for having the legislature, either at the national level or at the State level is for this legislature to play a role of check and balance.

“Unfortunately in Nigeria, we always have very strong executive arm of government, but very impotent legislative arm.

“If our legislators have been doing their jobs very well and very effectively, you students will not have a job to do in terms of checkmating or holding the leaders accountable.

“But, what we have found is that, more often than not, most legislators are only interested in what they can get from the executive by a way of personal aggrandizement. And what is being pilfered is the commonwealth of all of us, it is not the property of the governor or the president, it is the property of all of us.

“So, if the legislators have failed in their responsibility to bring about accountability, then it behoves on all of us, educated youths in particular who still have a long way to go to take up the role that our legislators have refused to perform.

“The solution lies in educated youths who must try to do things differently. The youths must be well equiped for them to take over the mantle of leadership.

“The people (legislators) there now are already enmeshed in corruption and it is only the youths now who can really challenge the status quo by way of committing to do things differently if they have opportunities”.

Earlier in his welcome address, Adeyemi charged Nigerian students who are eligible to vote to actively participate in the forthcoming general elections.

He also called on the youths to shun all forms of violence before, during and after the elections.

Adeyemi said, “As we approach 2023 elections, it is well within our duties as government, policymakers, parents and teachers to safeguard our collective future by providing excellent guidance to our students and the youths generally.

“However, it is exigent for us to remind them on the need to avoid all forms of electoral malpractices and misconducts as well to teach them their constitutional obligations under the electoral acts.

“It is also expedient that they’re made aware of the various machineries through which they can interface and hold public officials accountable.”