Budget Presentation: NASS rendition of Tinubu allegiance song irks Nigerians

On November 29, during the joint session of the National Assembly for the presentation of the 2024 budget by President Bola Tinubu, Nigerians witnessed a surprising display as lawmakers sang an allegiance song to the President. This action has sparked various reactions, with many criticizing it as an attempt to flatter and boost President Tinubu’s ego, labeling it as an extreme form of sycophancy on the part of the lawmakers.

President Tinubu, accompanied by his vice president, Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other government officials, presented the budget to the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Instead of focusing on the substantive matters of the budget presentation, lawmakers turned the event into what some describe as a form of comic relief. After the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, finished his speech, the lawmakers erupted into song, chanting praises to President Tinubu, much to the surprise and consternation of many observers.

Critics argue that the analogy presented by Akpabio, comparing Nigeria’s 24 years of democracy to America’s 247 years, was unnecessary and irrelevant, as the two countries have vastly different democratic experiences. Despite the robust content of the budget, attention has shifted to the lawmakers’ behavior rather than a thorough analysis of the budget’s sectors.

Public reactions vary, with some condemning the lawmakers’ behavior as sycophantic and others suggesting it may be a continuation of similar practices from previous administrations. The spectacle has sparked a debate on the role of the National Assembly and the appropriateness of such displays in the legislative chamber.