Members of the House of Representatives under the Save Democracy Group (SDG) have issued a stark warning that Nigeria's democracy is on a dangerous decline, citing constitutional violations, chronic budget under-implementation, opaque spending, insecurity, and economic hardship. In a statement dated 5 August, the group called on the National Assembly leadership to immediately reconvene both chambers from recess to address these urgent concerns.
Non-Partisan Platform, Alarmed Lawmakers
The SDG described itself as a non-partisan platform of members of the 10th National Assembly committed to defending democracy, constitutional governance, legislative independence, accountability, and the rule of law. The group, led by Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers), alongside Abubakar Kusada (APC, Katsina) and Mansur Jega (ADC, Kebbi), stressed that its membership cuts across political parties and regions, insisting it is neither an opposition platform nor a political pressure group.
“Our membership cuts across political parties, regions and ideological differences. We are neither an opposition platform nor an instrument of any political interest. We are legislators increasingly alarmed by the direction of Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement said.
Constitutional Procedures Questioned
The lawmakers accused public institutions of treating constitutional provisions as optional, threatening democratic governance. They revisited the National Assembly's approval of the state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025, arguing that reliance on a voice vote was inconsistent with Section 305(6) of the Constitution, which requires approval by a two-thirds majority of all members of each chamber.
The group also questioned the House's passage of the Executive State Police Constitutional Alteration Bill on 23 July 2026. According to the statement, although Speaker Abbas Tajudeen announced that 311 lawmakers voted in favour, some members present maintained that fewer than the constitutionally required 240 members were physically present. The group alleged that the announced figure could only have been achieved by counting votes transmitted through WhatsApp by members not physically present. They argued that Section 9(2) of the Constitution requires affirmative votes of not less than two-thirds of all members before any constitutional amendment can be validly passed.
“The Constitution cannot be altered by presumption, improvisation or undisclosed voting arrangements,” the lawmakers said. While acknowledging that state police may be a desirable reform, they insisted that constitutional amendments must strictly comply with constitutional procedures.
Budget Implementation Under Scrutiny
The lawmakers expressed concern over persistent failures by the federal government to fully implement annual budgets. They argued that repeated extensions of budget implementation periods and rollover of capital projects have weakened fiscal discipline and legislative oversight. According to the statement, only about 30 per cent of the 2025 capital budget was reportedly funded, with approximately 70 per cent carried over into 2026.
The group cited remarks by Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, who reportedly described failure to implement an Appropriation Act as a breach of law that could amount to an impeachable offence. The lawmakers endorsed that position, demanding comprehensive implementation reports for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets; full disclosure of capital releases; reconciliation of revenues with authorised expenditure; explanations for delayed releases; a joint parliamentary investigation; and constitutional action where deliberate non-implementation is established.
“An Appropriation Act is law, and the government cannot choose which laws to obey,” they stated.
Concern Over Alleged Off-Budget Spending
The group called for an independent forensic audit into reports of alleged off-budget public expenditure. It referred to reports that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated public expenditure equivalent to about two per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, approximately ₦8.83 trillion, not reflected in recent official budgets. According to the lawmakers, if confirmed, such expenditure would represent a significant discrepancy between Nigeria’s declared fiscal deficit and actual financing requirements.
“This administration cannot demand sacrifice from Nigerians while public expenditure remains opaque,” the statement said. The lawmakers maintained that every naira spent by the government belongs to Nigerians and must be fully accounted for through transparent appropriation and expenditure processes.
Security Funding Concerns
On insecurity, the group said continued killings, kidnappings, and displacement of citizens by terrorists, bandits, and other criminal groups remained unacceptable. The lawmakers cited reports indicating that some security agencies had yet to receive capital releases despite the worsening security situation. They questioned disparities in government spending priorities, claiming that almost the entire allocation for the Presidential Air Fleet had reportedly been released, while only a small portion of funds appropriated for the Nigerian Army’s security equipment had been made available.
The lawmakers clarified they were not opposed to maintaining the Presidential Air Fleet but argued that operational funding for security agencies should receive greater priority. They urged immediate release of appropriated capital funds to the armed forces, the Nigeria Police Force, intelligence agencies, and other security institutions.
Religious Leaders Commended
The group commended the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) for publicly raising concerns over insecurity, economic hardship, and democratic decline. It also praised the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria for urging wider consultations and caution over the proposed establishment of state police. According to the lawmakers, both religious bodies demonstrated patriotism by speaking on national issues and emphasising constitutional safeguards.
Call for Emergency Parliamentary Session
The lawmakers urged the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to immediately reconvene both chambers to deliberate on pressing national issues. The emergency session should focus on the under-implementation of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets, the constitutional controversy surrounding the State Police Constitutional Alteration Bill, allegations of off-budget expenditure, non-release of capital funds to security agencies, the worsening security situation, and measures to restore public confidence in democratic governance.
“The National Assembly is not merely an institution for passing Executive Bills and approving requests from the Presidency. It is an independent arm of government constitutionally empowered to represent the people, defend the Constitution, appropriate public funds, conduct oversight and hold the Executive accountable,” the statement said.
The group maintained it was not opposed to state police, economic reforms, or necessary public expenditure, but insisted that constitutional procedures, transparent budgeting, and accountability must not be sacrificed. It warned that history would judge members of the 10th National Assembly by whether they defended the Constitution and protected the interests of Nigerians during what it described as a defining moment for the country’s democracy.
