Aisha Yesufu Calls for Scrapping of Nigerian Senate to Cut Governance Costs

Aisha Yesufu, a prominent political and civil rights activist, has urged the elimination of the Nigerian Senate to reduce the cost of governance.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, Yesufu, co-founder of the Bring Back Our Girls Movement, responded to growing calls for Nigeria to abandon its bicameral legislature in favor of a unicameral system.

NAN explains that a unicameral legislature consists of a single chamber, unlike a bicameral system which includes both a Senate and a House of Representatives. Countries like China, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Portugal use unicameral legislatures.

Yesufu suggested that Nigeria might also consider reinstating a parliamentary system of government to curb the substantial funds allocated to the National Assembly.

She emphasized that without addressing government expenses and corruption, Nigerians would not experience the benefits of democracy.

“We must critically examine our democracy and adopt a system that serves ordinary citizens without being excessively expensive,” Yesufu stated. She advocated for a unicameral legislature and the elimination of the Senate, arguing that the current system is too costly and inefficient for Nigeria’s financial capabilities.

Yesufu criticized the Senate as a “retirement home” for incompetent former governors and pointed out the duplicative functions of the Senate and House of Representatives. She highlighted the substantial resources allocated to the Senate, which could otherwise improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

Citing Senegal’s 2012 abolition of its Senate, Yesufu argued that a unicameral legislature would suffice for Nigeria’s legislative needs, streamline lawmaking, and reduce governance costs.

She also proposed adopting a parliamentary system to further cut expenses, where ministers are selected from elected parliament members, thus reducing the need for additional appointees.

Yesufu concluded that both the bicameral legislature and the presidential system place undue pressure on Nigeria’s resources and that transitioning to a parliamentary system would significantly reduce governance costs.