The Nigerian Senate has responded to critics labeling the current National Assembly as a “rubber stamp” of President Bola Tinubu’s Executive, asserting that it only endorses policies and programs that serve the best interests of Nigerians.
In an interview on Thursday evening, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, addressed the criticism, emphasizing that the legislative arm remains the most accessible branch of government to Nigerians. “We are the soft target of everybody,” Adaramodu said, noting that constituents can easily reach lawmakers compared to the Executive.
Defending the Senate’s role, Adaramodu argued that the “rubber stamp” label is misunderstood. “Even when you want a certified true copy of any document without the rubber stamp, it’s invalid,” he explained. “When the Executive or Judiciary undertakes any process, procedure, or program, if the rubber stamp is not there, it’s not authentic. To that extent, we rubber stamp everything that is good for Nigerians.”
Adaramodu further questioned whether the Senate should reject beneficial initiatives, such as student loans, simply to avoid perceptions of being too aligned with the Executive. “Are we saying we would not stamp it because we don’t want some people to say we’re in a fisticuff with the Executive?” he asked.
The Senate’s response comes amid ongoing debates about the National Assembly’s independence and its role in scrutinizing Executive actions while advancing policies for the nation’s benefit.
