Poor Budget Oversight and Governance Failures in the Niger State Assembly
By Yakubu Mustafa Bina
The Niger State House of Assembly, as the legislative branch of the state government, bears the constitutional responsibility of enacting laws, amending policies, and reviewing the annual budget submitted by the governor. Recently, on December 5th, 2025, the governor presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill for legislative examination and approval.
Members of the Assembly, known as lawmakers, are entrusted with enacting effective laws that promote peace, accountability, and good governance. However, during the last budget presentation chaired by Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, it was evident that these legislators often function more as supporters of the executive than independent overseers.
State legislatures are constitutionally mandated to perform legislative, financial, and oversight duties. Yet, many have strayed from these essential functions, increasingly acting as rubber stamps rather than independent bodies exercising checks and balances.
In Nigeria and other democracies such as India, Canada, and Australia, legislators are elected to serve their constituents effectively, ensuring transparency, accountability, and proper service delivery. Nigerian state assembly members represent local government areas, serve four-year terms, and their primary responsibilities include lawmaking, representation, and oversight—particularly to prevent corruption, financial misappropriation, and resource leakages.
They also mediate community conflicts and explain legislative decisions to the public. The Niger State Assembly, comprising representatives from twenty-five local government areas, should function as an independent legislative body, focusing solely on lawmaking and governance oversight.
Nevertheless, the leadership of the Assembly—particularly Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji—must spearhead efforts to ensure responsible parliamentary conduct consistent with the New Niger Agenda of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s administration. This entails diligent oversight, thorough budget scrutiny, and the courage to reject proposals that fail ethical and procedural standards.
During the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, the Speaker expressed the House’s readiness to pass the budget swiftly, citing procedural delays. This stance undermines the importance of comprehensive legislative review. Despite public criticism that the Assembly serves as a mere rubber stamp, the Speaker assured support for the governor’s programs without genuine independence.
Statements like, “It is our desire to pass it here and now… but we are restrained by traditions and ethics,” reflect the Assembly’s lack of independence—an essential element for effective governance. Such attitudes erode public trust and suggest an inability or unwillingness to hold the executive accountable.
The current sycophantic tendencies within the Niger State Assembly must be addressed. Lawmakers need to reclaim their roles by championing transparency, accountability, and responsible resource management—central to combating corruption, ending misappropriation, and fostering development in Niger State and Nigeria as a whole.
This analysis was authored by Yakubu Mustapha Bina, a journalist and analyst, addressing the Assembly’s inadequate budget oversight and governance deficiencies in Niger State.
