Barau: Weaponising oversights weakens democracy

Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau has warned that the politicisation and weaponisation of legislative oversight erodes public confidence and weakens democratic institutions.

Barau gave the warning while delivering a lecture at the 2026 convocation ceremony of Al-Hikma University, Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday.

He spoke on the theme “Managing Executive-Legislature Relations towards Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.”

According to him, oversight function remains a core constitutional responsibility of the legislature, designed to promote transparency, accountability and good governance.

He stressed that accountability mechanisms must never be converted into tools of political warfare.

He, however, noted that when it is driven by partisan interests or personal rivalries, it undermines its democratic essence.

Democratic consolidation in Nigeria, he noted, extends beyond the conduct of periodic elections and requires strong institutions, respect for constitutional boundaries and constructive engagement among the arms of government.

The deputy senate president emphasised that separation of powers, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, does not imply isolation or antagonism between the executive and the legislature, but rather structured interaction, mutual restraint and institutional respect.

“Separation of powers presupposes cooperation, not confrontation. Where oversight is weaponised or abused, democratic trust is the first casualty,” he said.

Barau observed that executive-legislature relations in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic have oscillated between confrontation and cooperation since 1999.

He attributed early tensions to executive dominance inherited from military rule, weak legislative capacity, excessive partisan influence and the personalisation of power.

He, however, noted that the National Assembly has progressively asserted its constitutional role in law making, representation and oversight, contributing to democratic development despite recurring institutional frictions.

The senate leader further identified budgetary processes as a major interface between both arms of government.

He said delays and conflicts often reflect deficits in trust, transparency and timely engagement rather than constitutional flaws.

He called for regular dialogue, strengthened legislative capacity and strict adherence to constitutionalism as key steps towards improving executive–legislature relations and deepening democracy.

Barau urged political parties to strengthen internal democracy, warning that excessive executive control of party structures weakens legislative independence and distorts institutional balance.

Addressing graduating students, he charged them to uphold democratic values, demand accountable governance and contribute ethically and intellectually to Nigeria’s democratic growth.

“Nigeria’s democracy has endured longer than any previous democratic experiment, but endurance must now translate into qualitative democratic deepening,” he said.

In his speech, Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Prof Lateef Oladimeji, described Al-Hikmah University as Nigeria’s first Islamic faith-based university.

He noted that the institution has sustained a tradition of academic excellence, moral discipline and community service over its more than 20 years of existence.

He announced that the institution produced 76 first class, 1,008, second class upper division, 996 with second class lower division and 112 third class degree students.

He further disclosed that a total of 2,833 students will be awarded degrees, comprising 2,192 undergraduate and 641 postgraduate students.

He said the postgraduate include 77 Postgraduate Diploma recipients, 485 Master’s degree holders and 79 Doctor of Philosophy graduates.

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