We Will ‘Rubber Stamp’ in the Interest of Nigerians – Senate Replies Critics

The Nigerian Senate has pushed back against growing public criticism that the 10th National Assembly merely rubber-stamps decisions from the Bola Tinubu-led Executive. Speaking on Arise Television’s *Prime Time* on Thursday evening, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said the lawmakers support only initiatives that serve the best interests of Nigerians.

Adaramodu argued that while the term “rubber stamp” is often used disparagingly, it overlooks the Assembly’s constitutional role in validating executive actions that are beneficial to the country. “Even when you want to do a certified true copy of any document, without the rubber stamp it’s invalid,” he said, adding that the metaphor should not be mistaken for blind approval but rather seen as a necessary endorsement of positive policies.

He highlighted that the National Assembly is often unfairly targeted due to its accessibility to the public, unlike the Executive. “We are the soft target of everybody. We are the most accessible by our constituents because they can’t access the executive the way they can have access to us,” he said.

Defending the legislature’s recent approval of the Student Loan Act, Adaramodu asked whether lawmakers should reject such initiatives just to prove political independence. He stressed that the Assembly will continue to approve all policies and proposals that are in the interest of Nigerians, regardless of political optics.