Senate Acting as Executive’s ‘Cooperating Arm’ — Ireti Kingibe Faults National Assembly

Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate, has criticised the National Assembly, saying it has failed to effectively perform its constitutional role as a check on the Executive arm of government.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, Kingibe said the legislature has increasingly acted as a “cooperating arm” of the Executive instead of functioning as an independent institution responsible for oversight and accountability.

She argued that many actions attributed to the Executive would not have succeeded without the approval of the National Assembly.

“I don’t think the Senate is performing its constitutional role effectively as a check on executive power,” she said, adding that lawmakers must also take responsibility for decisions often blamed solely on the presidency.

Her remarks come amid growing concerns over the independence of the National Assembly and its relationship with the Executive under the current administration.