Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has rejected claims by opposition parties that the National Assembly under President Bola Tinubu’s administration is a rubber-stamp institution.
Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said such accusations do not reflect the reality of legislative-executive relations, referencing the extensive process involved in the passage of the 2024 Tax Reform Bills.
In a statement released by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader, Bamidele pointed out that the National Assembly, since its inauguration, has prioritised strategic engagement and constructive dialogue in addressing complex national issues.
Opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, have repeatedly accused the Godswill Akpabio-led Assembly of being subservient to the executive.
He explained the fact that the 2024 Tax Reform Bills, introduced in November 2024, underwent rigorous scrutiny for six months before their eventual passage, an indication of the independence and diligence of the legislature.
Bamidele added that in the process of passing the bills, both executive and legislative arms held over 39 engagements to thrash grey areas in the Tax Reform Bills, 2024, before both chambers of the National Assembly eventually passed the bills.