Senate warns against proposals for part-time lawmakers, says parliament remains closest link to the people
The Nigerian Senate has dismissed recent calls for a part-time legislative system, warning that such a move could undermine the country’s democracy and weaken its democratic institutions.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the spokesperson of the Senate, issued the warning during a live interview on Channels Television on Friday.
He argued that Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive if lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly are reduced to part-time roles.
“If the parliament is on part-time, then it means democracy is on part-time,” Adaramodu said. “There is no democracy that derides its parliament and thrives.”
The lawmaker, who represents Ekiti South Senatorial District under the ruling All Progressives Congress, was reacting to growing advocacy for Nigeria to adopt a part-time parliamentary system in order to cut governance costs.
However, Adaramodu insisted that such a proposal would be counterproductive and dangerous to representative democracy.
He explained that lawmakers play far more than legislative roles, adding that their responsibilities extend to oversight, constituency representation, and social support.
“The National Assembly is not just for making laws. We also carry out oversight functions and defend the interests of our people. In fact, of the three arms of government, we are the most accessible,” he said.
Highlighting the closeness between lawmakers and the citizens, Adaramodu noted that constituents frequently reach out to their representatives for various forms of support, including social and economic assistance.
“We go home frequently. When a child is born, they call us for naming ceremony funds. When someone is roofing a house, we are the ones they turn to,” he said.
He stressed that weakening the parliament by making it part-time would leave a vacuum in the democratic process, stripping citizens of their primary channel of representation and advocacy.
“The parliament is not just to sit down at the plenary and make laws. We follow up on those laws and ensure they are implemented in the interest of the people. If you take that away, who do the people turn to?” Adaramodu queried.
The senator urged Nigerians to approach governance reforms with caution, warning that reducing the role of the legislature could come at the cost of accountability and democratic engagement.
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