The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has criticised the National Assembly, saying lawmakers have turned lawmaking into a tool for personal gain and self-interest.
Amadi made the comments on Thursday during a live interview on Arise Television, where he spoke about the growing challenges in Nigeria’s political system.
He said the way laws are currently being made is creating more exclusion in governance, adding that both government officials and lawmakers are contributing to the problem.
According to him, “The National Assembly is turning legislation into a tool for self-aggrandizement. Whether it is for the executive arm or for themselves, the result is a growing crisis driven by exclusion.”
He explained that while the National Assembly has the constitutional power to make its own rules, some of the recent actions appear to be more focused on individuals and specific situations rather than the general public interest.
Amadi added that the Senate and House of Representatives are allowed to regulate their internal affairs under the Constitution, but said the trend of passing laws that appear targeted is becoming more common.
He pointed to the Electoral Act as an example, saying some of its provisions were designed in a way that seemed to affect specific political actors rather than apply broadly.
He also argued that some politicians who are now complaining about the system were previously silent when similar laws were made that affected others in the past.