Human rights activist and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, has criticised the National Assembly for what she described as its silence and failure to address the worsening insecurity across the country.
In an open letter released on Monday, Yesufu accused federal lawmakers of abandoning their constitutional responsibilities at a time when killings, kidnappings and violent attacks have become rampant nationwide.
She said the legislature, which she described as the “bedrock of democracy,” has a duty beyond lawmaking, including confirming appointments, ratifying treaties and providing oversight on the executive—roles she argued they have failed to fulfil.
Yesufu noted that lawmakers enjoy constitutional protections that allow them to speak freely on behalf of their constituents, yet have refused to use these privileges to defend Nigerians facing growing security threats.
According to her, citizens are being attacked “in places they should feel safest,” including homes, markets, schools, worship centres and highways. She lamented that “nowhere is safe,” while accusing the National Assembly of not raising a unified voice or taking decisive action in response.
Instead, she alleged that legislators have aligned themselves with the executive and reduced the parliament to a “rubber stamp assembly,” thereby contributing to what she called Nigeria’s “descent into chaos.”
She urged lawmakers to “bow their heads in shame,” accusing them of neglecting their duty to protect citizens while focusing on trivial matters.
To address the crisis, Yesufu called for an emergency session on national security, investigations into the failures of security agencies and stronger legislative measures to tackle the drivers of violence. She also urged the National Assembly to summon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to explain the measures his administration is taking to protect Nigerians.
Yesufu insisted that Nigerians would continue to demand accountability and would not be silenced, adding that the legislature must “wake up to its responsibilities” to restore public trust in democratic governance.
