N’Assembly faces backlash over frequent recesses, attendance secrecy

The 10th National Assembly has come under fire from the AdvoKC Foundation for its "perpetual recess culture" and refusal to disclose lawmakers' attendance records, alleging that the federal legislature is undermining transparency and accountability. According to Luqman Adamu, AdvoKC's Communications Manager, the Assembly has spent more time on recess than active plenary sessions, despite pressing national issues like insecurity, inflation, and the rising cost of living.

The foundation argues that the frequent recesses are disrupting the legislature's constitutional responsibilities of lawmaking, oversight, and appropriation. They question the value Nigerians receive from the highest-funded National Assembly in the country's history, asserting that lawmakers are being paid record sums but are not effectively legislating or attending sessions.

The organisation also claims that the Assembly resisted public scrutiny by allegedly refusing to release lawmakers' attendance records following a Freedom of Information request. Despite the request being acknowledged on the same day, the National Assembly did not respond within the prescribed seven days under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

The foundation has demanded the immediate release of the attendance records, routine quarterly publication of plenary attendance, and a public account of the time spent on recesses versus plenary sessions since the 10th Assembly's inauguration.