Former Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute, has delivered a stinging assessment of legislative performance in Nigeria, warning that lawmakers who merely occupy seats in the National Assembly without contributing to debates, lawmaking or oversight are undermining the country’s democratic progress.
Speaking at the National Legislative Awards 2026 in Abuja, Ebute said Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when legislators actively perform their constitutional responsibilities, insisting that the legislature remains the most critical institution for ensuring good governance.
According to him, the success or failure of any administration is largely determined by the quality of its parliament, stressing that lawmakers must be judged by their legislative contributions rather than their political status.
“The legislature is an inevitable arm of government. It is the first arm recognised by the Constitution because it represents the entire Nigerian population through elected senators and members of the House of Representatives,” he said.
Ebute argued that the framers of the 1999 Constitution deliberately placed the legislature ahead of the Executive and the Judiciary because it embodies the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.
The former Senate President classified legislators into three categories: those who remain passive throughout their tenure, lawmakers who actively participate in debates, sponsor bills and carry out oversight responsibilities, and opposition legislators whose actions are driven largely by partisan considerations.
He reserved his strongest criticism for what he described as “seat warmers”—lawmakers who complete their four-year tenure without making meaningful contributions to legislative business.
“They are simply there, collecting their entitlements without leaving any meaningful legislative footprint,” Ebute said.
He maintained that productive legislators are indispensable to national development, arguing that effective oversight, quality legislation and robust representation are essential ingredients for accountable governance.
Ebute also defended initiatives that celebrate legislative excellence, describing the National Legislative Awards, organised by HallowMace Foundation Africa in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency, as an important mechanism for promoting merit, accountability and healthy competition among lawmakers.
He said the process of selecting award recipients was rigorous and designed to identify legislators who had distinguished themselves through impactful lawmaking and dedicated public service.
Congratulating the awardees, Ebute urged them to regard the recognition as a challenge to do even more for their constituents and the nation.
“The quality of governance Nigerians enjoy depends largely on the quality of those elected to make the laws. Active legislators are indispensable to nation-building,” he said.
His remarks come amid increasing public scrutiny of the National Assembly, with growing calls for lawmakers to demonstrate greater productivity, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.