Table of Contents
U.S. Congressional Scrutiny of Nigeria’s Security Crisis and Legislative Response
On November 20, the United States Congress convened a public hearing to examine Nigeria’s escalating security challenges and the implications of President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act. This hearing, held by the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, came shortly after the presidential announcement, which sent shockwaves through Nigerian officials and triggered some reactive measures aimed at curbing the nation’s pervasive insecurity.
Delayed Legislative Action in Nigeria
Regrettably, Nigeria’s own National Assembly, entrusted with lawmaking, oversight, and representation, remained largely inactive during this critical period. It was only a week after the U.S. Congress’s intense deliberations that Nigerian lawmakers in Abuja began to address the security crisis. This delay highlighted a troubling disconnect between the urgency of the situation and the responsiveness of Nigeria’s legislative body.
U.S. Lawmakers’ Emotional and Strategic Engagement
During the November 20 hearing, U.S. legislators expressed deep frustration and sorrow over the Nigerian government’s inability to safeguard its citizens from violent attacks targeting homes, churches, and communities. Some members described the persecution of Christians in Nigeria as tantamount to genocide. The session explored potential responses, including targeted sanctions, enhanced humanitarian aid, security assistance, and diplomatic pressure to promote religious freedom and stability in Nigeria.
Nigerian Parliament’s Subsequent Security Debates and Resolutions
Following the U.S. hearing, Nigeria’s House of Representatives convened from November 25 to 27 to discuss insecurity. They passed resolutions advocating for a ban on ransom payments, reforms in military recruitment, judicial improvements, enhanced intelligence operations, adoption of drone technology, state policing, international collaboration, and tighter border controls. Concurrently, the Nigerian Senate held its own security session on November 26, endorsing measures such as classifying kidnapping as terrorism, investigating military conduct in the Kebbi State abduction case, and reforming military and judicial procedures.
Legislative Dysfunction and Political Infighting
Despite these efforts, the Nigerian legislature’s credibility remains undermined by internal conflicts and partisan disputes. Former Edo North Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole publicly criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio for allowing opposition Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to address the security issue, arguing that opposition voices should be excluded because they are not members of the ruling APC party. Such incidents exacerbate public distrust and reinforce negative stereotypes of the legislature as self-serving and ineffective.
Public Distrust and the Crisis of Legislative Credibility in Nigeria
The Nigerian National Assembly has long struggled with a widening trust gap between lawmakers and their constituents. Since the return to democracy in 1999, the legislature has been disparaged with labels such as “legislooters,” “rubber stamp,” and “Ghana Must Go” assembly, reflecting widespread cynicism about its performance and integrity. This persistent skepticism threatens the very foundation of Nigeria’s democratic governance.
Insights from Academic Research on Legislative Challenges
In a comprehensive PhD study conducted at the University of Abuja, titled Political Communication and Legislative Credibility in Nigeria: A Study of the National Assembly, 2003-2023, the author examined the communication barriers, high turnover rates, and poor service delivery that plague Nigeria’s legislature. The research drew on global data, including the 2012 Global Parliamentary Report by UNDP/IPU, which revealed Nigeria’s parliament holds a dismal 34.5% public approval rating.
The study also referenced findings by Loewenberg (2010), who described parliaments worldwide as “puzzlingly unpopular,” facing legitimacy crises. Additionally, the Nigerian Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS) reported a staggering 70% turnover rate in Nigeria’s National Assembly following elections in 2003, 2007, and 2011-the highest globally-further destabilizing legislative continuity and expertise.
The Democracy Paradox and Its Impact on Nigerian Governance
Scholars like Beetham (2006) and political theorist Norberto Bobbio have highlighted a “democracy paradox,” where the promises of democratic governance starkly contrast with its practical shortcomings. This gap fuels public disillusionment, particularly regarding legislative institutions. Despite advances in communication technologies, the Nigerian parliament remains poorly perceived, caught in what Olayiwola (1991) termed a “dialogue of the deaf” between lawmakers and citizens.
The Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) has noted mutual frustrations: citizens complain about ineffective representation, while legislators lament the electorate’s limited understanding of parliamentary processes. This mutual disconnect perpetuates the cycle of mistrust and disengagement.
Addressing the Trust Deficit: Recommendations for Reform
While declining trust in parliaments is a global phenomenon, Nigeria’s situation is particularly acute. The country’s legislature not only experiences the highest turnover rates but also ranks among the least responsive worldwide, despite constitutional mandates emphasizing the primacy of representation.
To reverse this trend, the study advocates for a more professionalized recruitment process for lawmakers, with political parties collaborating with human resource experts to identify qualified candidates. Emphasizing representation as the core legislative function, continuous civic education should empower citizens to hold their representatives accountable and understand their constitutional powers.
By prioritizing the election of career legislators committed to public service rather than personal gain, Nigeria can cultivate a more effective and credible legislature. Such reforms would enhance legislative oversight, support executive functions, and ultimately deliver greater democratic dividends to the Nigerian populace.
(Originally published by the Sunday Tribune, November 30, 2025)
