Senate Leader of the Nigeria Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele has reaffirmed that Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly is neither a subordinate to the executive arm of government nor designed to engage in institutional conflict, but rather positioned to deliver on its mandate through strategic cooperation.
Speaking in Abuja as part of the legislature’s midterm review, Bamidele defended the Assembly’s collaborative approach with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that mutual respect between arms of government has yielded significant legislative progress.
“The National Assembly was never meant to be a rubber stamp, and it is not. At the same time, it wasn’t established to be antagonistic. Where collaboration advances the national interest, we will embrace it,” Bamidele said.
Marking two years since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, the Senate Leader described the period as one of reflection on Nigeria’s democratic evolution, 26 years after the end of military rule.
The Ekiti Central lawmaker noted that, despite navigating complex economic and political challenges, the legislature has remained focused on reform-oriented lawmaking.
Between June 2023 and June 2025, he said, the Assembly has passed or amended 108 bills aimed at improving governance, boosting economic performance, and strengthening service delivery.
Among the highlights, according to him, are the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024, which has facilitated over one million applications and benefited more than 500,000 students through tuition and living support under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), and the 2025 Tax Reform Bills, which are expected to overhaul Nigeria’s tax architecture and unlock significant economic growth once signed into law.
“These reforms are not just numbers on paper, they’re designed to increase access to education and improve national productivity,” he said.
The Senate Leader also cited data indicating a spike in legislative activity, noting that a total of 983 bills were introduced within the two-year span 477 in the first session and 506 in the second representing a 6% increase.
According to him, more notably, bill passage grew by over 230%, from 25 in the first year to 83 in the second, while the number of executive-sponsored bills passed doubled from 13 to 26.
He emphasized that lawmaking is only one aspect of the Assembly’s role, explaining that the Senate has expanded its oversight functions and responded more actively to citizen concerns.
Within a year, he said, the number of petitions addressed rose from 50 to 80, and 215 executive appointments were confirmed during the first session.
Looking to the months ahead, the lawmaker outlined key legislative priorities, restoring macroeconomic stability, strengthening internal security, tackling inflation, and pushing for constitutional reforms that address structural imbalances in Nigeria’s federal system.
He said public hearings organized by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review are scheduled to begin soon, with a promise of wide-ranging public participation, adding that electoral reform also remains a priority.
“Reforming our political system is essential to preserving democracy and ensuring it reflects the will of the people,” Bamidele said.
Maintaining that true democratic consolidation would require continuous input from all sectors of society, he said, “Our goal is to build a legislative legacy grounded in good governance, accountability, and inclusive development. We call on Nigerians from all walks of life to take ownership of this process.”
As the 10th Assembly enters the second half of its tenure, Bamidele assured that its members remain committed to fulfilling their constitutional mandate with integrity, professionalism, and a sense of national duty.
