Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, has cautioned that the politicisation and weaponisation of legislative oversight erode public confidence and weaken democratic institutions.
Barau issued the warning on Wednesday while delivering a lecture at the 2026 convocation ceremony of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State. The lecture was titled, “Managing Executive–Legislature Relations towards Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic”.
He explained that legislative oversight is a fundamental constitutional duty designed to promote transparency, accountability and good governance, but stressed that it should not be reduced to an instrument for political vendetta.
He said, “When oversight is driven by partisan interests or personal rivalries, it loses its democratic essence.”
The Deputy Senate President noted that democratic consolidation extends beyond the conduct of periodic elections, adding that it requires strong institutions, respect for constitutional limits and constructive engagement among the three arms of government.
He emphasised that the principle of separation of powers under the 1999 Constitution does not connote hostility between the executive and the legislature, but rather structured interaction founded on mutual respect.
He added, “Separation of powers presupposes cooperation, not confrontation. Where oversight is abused, democratic trust is the first casualty.”
Barau observed that executive–legislative relations since 1999 have oscillated between cooperation and conflict, attributing the situation to factors such as executive dominance inherited from military rule, weak legislative capacity and excessive partisanship.
He identified the budget process as a major source of tension, blaming frequent delays on trust deficits and poor engagement rather than constitutional shortcomings. He called for sustained dialogue, improved legislative capacity and strict adherence to constitutional principles to strengthen democratic governance.
