Senate President Godswill Akpabio contends that, among the three arms of government, legislators encounter the most undeserved criticism from Nigerians. Akpabio underscores that citizens frequently attribute issues beyond their control to lawmakers.
Speaking at the 100th birthday colloquium of Second Republic lawmaker Senator Kunle Oyero, Akpabio sheds light on the misconceptions surrounding the legislature. He states, “The one arm of government that people don’t really understand and is always a subject of ridicule and attack is the legislature. In fact, people sometimes don’t think legislators do anything at all.”
Akpabio points out the divergence between the electorate’s expectations and the constitutional duties of legislators, emphasizing, “The metric of measuring the performance of legislators is the number of transformers and other material things they give to the people they are representing.”
In addressing the challenges faced by the legislature, Akpabio advocates for a more nuanced understanding of the roles and responsibilities of lawmakers. He urges Nigerians to recognize the complexity of legislative work and the limitations lawmakers face in addressing certain issues.
The Global President of AGSOBA, Sunday Oduntan, adds to the discussion by suggesting a part-time legislative model. Oduntan underscores the importance of addressing structural challenges in the political landscape to foster a more effective and responsive legislative system.
