Former Senator, Dino Melaye has accused Nigeria’s National Assembly of failing to assert its independence from the executive, warning that the legislature is abdicating its constitutional oversight role.
Melaye said that while the president could propose policies and legislation, parliament had a duty to examine them independently and accept, amend or reject them in the national interest.
He said the 1999 Constitution did not establish an elected monarchy but a presidential democracy in which power was deliberately divided among the executive, legislature and judiciary to prevent any individual or institution from exercising authority without restraint.
Melaye cited the amendment to the Nigeria Police Act 2020, initiated by President Bola Tinubu in July, as an example.
He questioned why the amendment passed through all three readings in both chambers on the same day, arguing that the speed of passage raised questions about the depth of legislative scrutiny.
He also drew attention to the professional relationships between the president and two successive inspectors-general of police, Kayode Egbetokun and Olatunji Disu, both of whom had previously served in security-related roles linked to the president.
Melaye said the police play a significant role in securing elections, protecting polling units and collation centres, safeguarding election materials and preventing violence.
He questioned whether the National Assembly had demanded sufficient safeguards to guarantee the independence of an institution whose activities could affect the credibility of elections.
Melaye also criticised the parliament’s handling of the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by Tinubu on March 18, 2025.
He questioned the use of voice votes by both chambers to approve the proclamation, arguing that Section 305(6)(b) of the Constitution requires approval by a two-thirds majority of all members of each chamber.
On the tax laws, Melaye questioned the handling of discrepancies between versions, he said.
According to him, releasing certified copies of the laws was not enough to resolve the broader questions of how the discrepancies arose, who was responsible and whether anyone was held accountable.
He said the National Assembly had a responsibility to protect the integrity of legislation passed by its members and ensure that unauthorised changes could not undermine the legislative process.
Melaye also questioned the handling of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the controversy surrounding the House of Representatives’ decision to rescind an earlier position on mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.
He referred to the proceedings of February 12, 2026, when Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put a rescission motion to a voice vote.