Opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly did not raise objections during the chamber's approval of a $6 billion loan request, according to former senator Shehu Sani. Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, said the loan passed without a single dissenting voice. He noted that while opposition members remained silent during the legislative proceedings, they were active on social media criticising the approval. Sani described the absence of formal opposition in the chamber as troubling, especially given the scale of the loan. The $6 billion request was presented and approved during a plenary session in Abuja.
Shehu Sani's observation exposes a disconnect between the public posturing of opposition lawmakers and their inaction during critical votes. Their silence during the $6 billion loan approval, followed by social media commentary, suggests performance over accountability. For Nigerians concerned about debt accountability, this pattern undermines legislative credibility. Symbolic online criticism does little to stop financial decisions once they are already passed in chamber.
