Former Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute, has declared that the success or failure of any Nigerian government rests largely on the quality and commitment of its legislators, warning that the National Assembly must not be reduced to a chamber of “seat warmers.”
Speaking as Chairman of the National Legislative Awards 2026 in Abuja, Ebute said the legislature occupies a unique constitutional position as the first arm of government and bears the primary responsibility of representing the collective will of Nigerians.
According to him, the framers of the 1999 Constitution deliberately placed the legislature ahead of the Executive and the Judiciary, a recognition of its central role in democratic governance.
“The legislature is an inevitable arm of government. It is the first arm recognised by the Constitution because it represents the entire Nigerian population through elected senators and members of the House of Representatives,” he said.
Ebute lamented that not every lawmaker lives up to that constitutional responsibility, classifying legislators into three broad categories—docile lawmakers, active and participatory lawmakers, and opposition lawmakers who oppose government policies largely for partisan reasons.
He described the first category as lawmakers who spend their entire four-year tenure making little or no contribution to lawmaking, debates or legislative oversight.
“They are simply there, collecting their entitlements without leaving any meaningful legislative footprint,” he said.
In contrast, the former Senate President praised lawmakers who actively sponsor bills, contribute to debates and carry out oversight functions, describing them as the true architects of good governance and national development.
He said the effectiveness of any administration is closely tied to the performance of the legislature, insisting that governments cannot deliver meaningful development without a vibrant and productive parliament.
Ebute said this was why recognising outstanding legislators was essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
Commending the organisers of the National Legislative Awards—HallowMace Foundation Africa in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency—he said the initiative would encourage excellence, accountability and selfless service in the National Assembly.
He noted that identifying deserving award recipients required a rigorous selection process and praised the organisers for rewarding merit rather than popularity.
Congratulating the award recipients, the former Senate President urged them not to relent in their service to the nation, saying the honour should spur them to greater dedication in advancing the interests of their constituents and strengthening democratic institutions.
“The quality of governance Nigerians enjoy depends largely on the quality of those elected to make the laws. Active legislators are indispensable to nation-building,” Ebute said.