Nigeria Will Save Billions If Lawmakers Sit Part-Time, Opines Ndume

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South and a former Chief Whip of the Senate, has renewed calls for a major overhaul of Nigeria’s legislative structure, insisting that the country could save billions of naira annually if federal lawmakers operated on a part-time basis instead of the current full-time arrangement.

Ndume, who spoke to journalists on Thursday, said the high cost of maintaining a full-time National Assembly has become unsustainable, especially at a time when Nigeria is grappling with severe economic challenges, rising debt servicing obligations, inflation, and a worsening cost-of-living crisis. According to him, cutting the cost of governance must begin with political office holders, including the legislature. He argued that although lawmakers are classified as full-time officials, actual plenary sittings and committee activities happen only on selected days each week, with several recess periods throughout the year. This, he said, makes the case for transitioning to a part-time model even more compelling. Ndume stated that adopting a part-time legislature would drastically reduce overhead costs such as allowances, committee running costs, logistics, personnel expenses, travels, and other recurrent expenditures that currently consume a significant portion of the national budget. Nigeria will save billions of naira if we adopt a part-time legislature. The money can be used to address critical sectors such as security, infrastructure, and public welfare,” he said. The senator emphasised that savings made from the reform could immediately be channelled to strengthening the country’s security architecture, supporting military operations, improving police welfare, and enhancing community-level security interventions. He lamented that insecurity continues to threaten livelihoods, education, and commerce in many regions, especially northern Nigeria. Ndume stressed that the time has come for the political class to make sacrifices for the nation, noting that Nigeria is “under financial strain” and requires bold reforms rather than cosmetic adjustments. His proposal comes amid ongoing national debate over the cost of governance and public expenditure. Civil society organisations and economists have repeatedly criticised Nigeria’s expensive political structure, calling for reductions in the size of government, a review of allowances, and adjustments to constitutional provisions that mandate full-time legislative operations. While previous calls for a part-time legislature have often faced resistance from lawmakers who argue it would weaken legislative capacity and representation, Ndume maintained that Nigeria must explore unconventional solutions to address its fiscal realities. He noted that several countries with similar or even stronger economies operate part-time legislative systems successfully, arguing that Nigeria can adopt a model that suits its current circumstances. Political observers say Ndume’s latest remarks may reignite pressure on the federal government and the National Assembly to undertake reforms, especially as public scrutiny of government spending intensifies. For now, Ndume insists that Nigeria must confront the “hard truths” about its governance structure, warning that continuing with the current model would further strain public finances and limit funds available for development and security.