Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has dismissed claims by opposition parties branding the National Assembly as a rubber-stamp institution, insisting that such accusations are baseless and unfair.
In a statement released on Sunday by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader, Bamidele detailed the extensive legislative work that went into the passage of the Tax Reform Bills, 2024. He argued that the depth of scrutiny and stakeholder engagement involved contradicts any notion of the legislature being a mere extension of the executive arm.
“If we were truly a rubber-stamp parliament, the bills would have been passed within one or two weeks. Instead, we held over 39 meetings with the executive and various stakeholders over six months before the Tax Reform Bills were passed,” Bamidele said.
The Ekiti Central lawmaker noted that the legislative process was marked by strategic engagements involving civil society groups, professional bodies, religious leaders, captains of industry, and other critical stakeholders. He emphasized that the National Assembly’s approach was guided by national interest and a commitment to thorough scrutiny, not political showmanship.
The Senate Leader also referenced the 2025 Appropriation Act as another example of the Assembly’s independent and meticulous approach. The budget, laid before the joint session on December 18, 2024, was not passed until February 13, 2025, allowing for in-depth evaluation by all relevant committees.
“We did not rush the budget to meet the December deadline, despite the tradition of maintaining a January-December fiscal cycle. Every agency was thoroughly scrutinized to ensure transparency and accountability,” he stated.
Bamidele stressed that the National Assembly’s preference for collaboration over confrontation should not be mistaken for submission. “Rather than grandstanding, we have chosen dialogue and constructive engagement with the executive to resolve national issues. That’s not weakness—it’s responsible governance,” he added.
The statement comes amid continued criticisms from leading opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), who have consistently accused the legislature of being too pliant.
Bamidele, however, maintained that the National Assembly remains committed to upholding its constitutional role in delivering good governance and promoting the welfare of Nigerians.
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