Ireti Kingibe Slams Parliament for Failing to Fulfill its Constitutional Duties

Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, has expressed criticism towards the National Assembly for its inability to effectively serve as a check on the Executive arm of government, a role she believes is essential to its constitutional mandate.

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Kingibe made these comments during an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, where she argued that the legislature has increasingly functioned as a cooperating arm of the Executive rather than maintaining its independence and oversight responsibilities.

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According to Kingibe, many actions attributed to the Executive would not be possible without the acquiescence of the National Assembly, highlighting the need for the legislature to re-evaluate its role and responsibilities.

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Kingibe stated that she does not believe the Senate is performing its constitutional role effectively as a check on executive power, and that lawmakers share responsibility for many decisions often blamed solely on the presidency.

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Her comments come amid ongoing debates about the independence of the legislature and its relationship with the Executive under the current administration, sparking further discussion on the matter.

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Kingibe also addressed the controversy surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, distancing herself from the committee report that recommended the disciplinary action and explaining that she had left a meeting of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to attend a retreat on tax reform.

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She maintained that she neither saw nor reviewed the report before it was submitted, and was surprised to later discover that a photocopy of her signature appeared on the document, which she claimed she could not have endorsed.

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Kingibe disclosed that she subsequently raised concerns with senior members of the Senate, including the Deputy Senate President, over her inability to access the report and the procedures surrounding its submission.

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While clarifying that she was not alleging forgery, Kingibe insisted that lawmakers should be given adequate opportunity to review committee reports before signing them, arguing that the current practice undermines transparency and accountability within the legislature.

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Kingibe described the situation, stating that there are many things that she feels should not be the way they are, highlighting the need for improvement in the legislative process.

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Regarding the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, Kingibe suggested that the matter could have been handled differently and that Senate procedures regarding disciplinary issues could be improved to avoid similar controversies in the future.

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She noted that previous disputes involving lawmakers were often resolved through apologies rather than lengthy suspensions, and that senators who violate parliamentary rules typically acknowledge their mistakes and apologise to colleagues.

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Kingibe argued that an apology could have resolved the issue surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension earlier, and that the controversy lasted longer than necessary due to the handling of the matter.