BudgIT, a leading civic-tech organisation advocating for transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public finance and OrderPaper, Nigeria’s foremost independent parliamentary monitoring organisation and policy think tank, have expressed deep concern over the weakening of Nigeria’s separation of powers as executive overreach, legislative dilution, and judicial sangfroid undermine institutional independence and democratic governance.

Over the years, Nigeria’s parliament has struggled to assert its independence from the executive, hindering its ability to exercise robust oversight and hold it accountable. This weak governance structure has exacerbated systemic challenges, contributing to poor crisis management and governance lapses. Similarly, unchecked executive dominance has stifled legislative oversight, weakened accountability mechanisms, and fostered budgetary mismanagement. This has contributed to Nigeria’s worsening economic instability, with GDP per capita declining by nearly 50% and inflation reaching 31.7% in 2024. The executive’s persistent disregard for court rulings and refusal to comply with legislative summons further highlight the erosion of checks and balances.

In the same vein, the National Assembly, rather than serving as a check on executive excesses, has recently looked askance at the policies and programmes of the presidency. Instead of scrutinising budgets and ensuring fiscal responsibility, legislators have contributed to poor financial indiscipline through budget insertions, with a staggering N2.24 trillion added to the 2024 budget alone. This challenge with legislative power has weakened governance and diminished public confidence. On the other hand, the Judiciary, constitutionally mandated to uphold justice and serve as an independent arbiter, appears to be aloof. Executive defiance of court rulings and allegations of judicial compromise have eroded public trust in the judicial system. Without financial and administrative autonomy, the judiciary remains vulnerable to political influence.