The Democratic Front (TDF) has expressed strong support for Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s insightful stance on the relationship between Nigeria’s Executive and Legislative arms of government.
In a statement on Friday, TDF Chairman Malam Danjuma Muhammad praised Akpabio’s view that the National Assembly should act independently while cooperating with the Executive to fulfill its constitutional role of checks and balances.
“Where both arms fulfill their distinctive roles, the Executive will deliver good governance to the people, and there will be development—being the reward of democracy,” Muhammad said.
He noted that the Senate President’s recent remarks in a yet-to-be-aired documentary, highlighting that federal lawmakers were not primarily elected to confront the Executive but to collaborate for the nation’s common good, were “on point.”
TDF emphasized that the principle of separation of powers exists not only to prevent tyranny and abuse but to promote accountability and protect individual rights, making collaboration essential.
The group rejected the widespread perception, especially among opposition circles, that lawmakers should act as perpetual opposition to the Executive. They described the notion that the current National Assembly is a “rubber stamp” due to its cooperative relationship with the Tinubu-led government as “ridiculous, baseless, and uninformed.”
Malam Muhammad pointed out that similar relationships existed in the past, such as between the Senate under Sen. David Mark and President Goodluck Jonathan, yet the Senate was never labeled a rubber stamp during that era.
According to TDF, the significant progress in infrastructural development and macroeconomic reforms over the last two years was largely made possible through mutual understanding and consensus between the Legislature and the Executive.
The statement also acknowledged challenges in the relationship, citing the rejection of some ministerial nominees and intense debates over the National Tax Reform Bill as signs of legislative independence.
“These debates reflect the independence of the Federal Legislature as enshrined in the constitution and have paved the way for the unhindered passage of numerous bills in the last two years,” the group added.
TDF urged Senate President Akpabio and members of the 10th National Assembly to maintain their philosophy of non-confrontation to sustain Nigeria’s status as a model of democracy in Africa.
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