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By Lizzy Chirkpi
Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly in 2025 became a theatre of intense political drama, public outrage and institutional strain. What began as routine legislative business quickly spiralled into a year marked by suspensions, corruption allegations, legal battles and internal power struggles—episodes that repeatedly placed the parliament under harsh national scrutiny.
For many Nigerians, 2025 was not just another legislative year. It was a defining moment that forced the country to confront difficult questions about how laws are made, who truly wields power in parliament, and whether the National Assembly can still live up to its role as the fulcrum of Nigeria’s democracy.
From the Senate floor to budget rooms and court corridors, the controversies of the year raised fundamental issues around accountability, fairness, equity, transparency and the limits of legislative authority.
The Akpabio–Natasha Saga
One of the most explosive controversies of the year erupted in February 2025, when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) accused the Senate leadership of harassment, intimidation and deliberate attempts to silence her legislative contributions. Although she initially stopped short of naming individuals, the allegations were widely interpreted as being directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio (APC, Akwa Ibom North-West).
What first appeared to be a disagreement over seating arrangements and committee recognition quickly escalated into a national debate on gender, power and dissent within Nigeria’s legislature. By March 2025, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions concluded its disciplinary proceedings and imposed a six-month suspension on Akpoti-Uduaghan—one of the harshest sanctions handed down by the chamber in recent history.
Civil society organisations and women’s rights groups strongly condemned the decision. Hajia Nike AbdulRahman, National Convener of Women Advocacy for Good Governance and a cultural and heritage value advocate, described the suspension as a blow to justice and fair hearing.
“The swift suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan raises serious concerns about the Senate’s commitment to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of its members. By silencing a voice calling for accountability, the Senate leadership is not only failing Akpoti-Uduaghan, but also millions of women across Nigeria who look to our legislative institutions for support and justice.”
Senate leadership, however, insisted the action was purely disciplinary and not political, arguing that “no senator is above the rules of the chamber.”
The controversy deepened when Akpoti-Uduaghan later accused the Senate President of sexual harassment—an allegation Akpabio denied through his media consultant, Kenny Okulogbo. The saga left deep divisions within the Senate and further eroded public confidence in the institution’s commitment to equity and fairness.
₦6.9 Trillion Budget Padding Allegations
Public outrage intensified in May 2025 after civic tech organisation BudgIT and other watchdog groups alleged that the National Assembly inserted questionable projects worth about ₦6.9 trillion into the 2025 Appropriation Act.
The flagged items included unusually inflated street-light projects, vague ICT procurements and constituency projects lacking clear locations or implementation frameworks.
Critics described the insertions as classic pork-barrel politics at a time when Nigerians were grappling with inflation, subsidy shocks and widespread economic hardship.
“The budget appears increasingly disconnected from national priorities,” a BudgIT analyst warned, noting that the practice undermined fiscal discipline.
Lawmakers defended their constitutional power to amend the budget, arguing that constituency projects were designed to address grassroots needs. Nevertheless, the controversy deepened public suspicion over how legislative powers were being exercised.
Tax Laws Tampering Allegations Trigger Legal Battles
Another major crisis unfolded in late September 2025 when Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto) of the House of Representatives alleged that the tax reform bills passed by the National Assembly were not the same versions later gazetted and circulated to the public.
Dasuki claimed that certain provisions were altered or smuggled in after legislative approval, triggering fears of legislative fraud and raising serious questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s lawmaking process.
The controversy dragged on for over three months. In response to public concerns, the House of Representatives eventually released Certified True Copies (CTCs) of four tax reform Acts signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Acts were the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025.
Although the leadership of both chambers dismissed the allegations as misunderstandings, the dispute spilled into the courts. By November 2025, a Federal High Court allowed the implementation of the Tax Acts to proceed, even as legal and public debates over transparency persisted.
₦3 Million Bribe Allegations Rock Leadership
In November 2025, the National Assembly was again plunged into scandal following allegations that lawmakers paid as much as ₦3 million to sponsor bills, motions or petitions.
The claims, which gained traction in political circles, prompted the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to file a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas (APC, Zaria Federal Constituency).
SERAP accused the leadership of failing to investigate the allegations and demanded court-ordered probes as well as whistleblower protection.
“If true, this practice represents a direct assault on legislative ethics,” SERAP stated in its filing.
Although the matter remained unresolved by year-end, the allegations reinforced public perceptions of a legislature increasingly detached from ethical standards.
Recruitment Controversies at NASC
Earlier in August 2025, controversy trailed a recruitment exercise conducted by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC). Applicants and civil society groups alleged nepotism, lack of transparency and violations of the federal character principle.
While National Assembly leadership maintained that the process was merit-based, the House of Representatives ordered an internal investigation to calm public anger. The episode exposed tensions between the legislature’s oversight responsibilities and its internal administrative governance.
A Legislature Under Pressure
Beyond the high-profile scandals, the 10th National Assembly struggled with persistent internal disputes throughout 2025. Lawmakers clashed over welfare packages, constituency project allocations and the handling of sensitive national issues, including the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Although not all disputes rose to the level of scandal, they pointed to leadership strain and deepening factionalism, reinforcing public perceptions of a legislature increasingly consumed by internal politics rather than national interest.
By the end of 2025, the controversies surrounding Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly painted a portrait of an institution under immense pressure. Questions of accountability and transparency dominated public discourse, trust in legislative processes was repeatedly tested, and debates over gender inclusion, ethics and institutional power moved firmly to the centre of the national conversation.