In keeping with its core objective of promoting democracy in an atmosphere of peace and unity in the country, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has decried the ineptness and lack of political will by the National Assembly to carry out effective oversight functions on the executive arm of the federal government and the security agencies despite worsening insecurity.

The umbrella organisation of all registered political parties and political associations in the country also accused the  Lawmakers “in both chambers of the National Assembly of compromise and turning themselves into rubber stamp legislators at the detriment of the well-being of the ordinary citizens.”

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, insisting that “the principal officers of the national assembly have failed Nigerians and betrayed their oath of office for operating as agents of the Federal Government rather than the representatives of the people.”

The CNPP was reacting to the continued killings and abduction of Nigerians in parts of the country, especially in Northern Nigeria.

“We wonder what the members of the National Assembly, especially the Principal  Officers of both Chambers, are telling their Constituents in terms of their preparedness to ensure that the executive protects them from criminal elements like Boko Haram and bandits.

“The recent attack on a meeting convened by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) at Arewa House, in Kaduna, as stakeholders gathered to deliberate on the security situation in the north at a time at least 333 school boys were kidnapped in Katsina State is shameful.

“The executive, whose responsibility it is to provide security for the citizens to be able to pursue legitimate endeavour has failed while the legislators who were constitutionally empowered to put the executive on its toes are obviously compromised and have remained not only an extension of the executive arm but also the defender of the failed security chiefs, whom they have continued to pamper in reality but only cry in the open as a cover up.

“Amid worsening security situation in parts of the country, we have seen the lawmakers cover up for the same service chiefs they have said President Muhammadu Buhari should sack on more than one occasion, even as the legislators have done nothing in exercise of its oversight powers on the executive.

“The inability of the National Assembly to summon the courage to initiate impeachment process against the President following his inaction on their resolutions to sack the service chiefs and other anti-democratic tendencies, including obvious constitutional breaches and ceding of Nigerian sovereignty for loans are enough evidence that they have equally failed to ensure the protection of citizens they were voted to represent.

“The CNPP is pained that Nigerians are suffering economic hardship amid extreme insecurity in the country while their representatives at that national assembly have continued to caress the executive.

“Despite visiting Mr. President to plead with him to address a joint session of the National Assembly in what was an obvious show of compromise, the lawmakers have remained toothless bull dogs that can only bark but cannot bite.

“We hereby reiterate our earlier calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the country’s Security  Chiefs if he still has any honour left, or he resigns”, the CNPP said.