Senator Ali Ndume, a former Chief Whip of the Senate representing Borno South, has said Nigeria could save billions of naira annually if federal lawmakers operated on a part-time basis.
Speaking during a Channels Television programme on Thursday, Ndume argued that the current full-time legislative structure imposes an unsustainable financial burden on the country, especially amid rising fiscal pressures and worsening insecurity.
“The cost of governance is too high. If lawmakers sit part-time, government will save billions,” he said, noting that the funds could be redirected to defence, security, and other priority sectors.
He linked high governance costs to the country’s struggle to effectively address insurgency in the North-East, banditry across the North-West and North-Central, widespread kidnappings, and rising violent crimes.
As part of broader reforms, Ndume faulted the continued use of large police escorts by senators and other VIPs despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing police personnel from such duties. The President had ordered Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to redeploy officers from VIP protection to frontline security operations.
“But up till now, senators are still overcrowded with policemen,” Ndume said, urging the IGP to fully enforce the directive.
He argued that returning police officers to community and operational duties would strengthen national security more effectively than assigning them to individuals, adding that Nigeria’s security architecture is overstretched and needs “every available hand.”
The lawmaker maintained that cutting governance costs including reducing VIP security and adopting a part-time legislature would free funds for equipment, logistics, and improved welfare for security personnel.
He called on President Tinubu and police authorities to expedite ongoing reforms to ensure officers focus on protecting the general public rather than political officeholders.
