2026: CISLAC advocates prioritisation of key legislative reforms as NASS resumes
Omeiza Bilal
As the National Assembly resumes legislative duties for the 2026 session, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on the 10th National Assembly to refocus on governance, accountability, and critical reforms, warning against the dangers of early electioneering ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), described 2026 as a defining year for both the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and the current legislature, stressing that Nigerians now expect tangible outcomes from policies and programmes introduced since 2023.
“While citizens have shown patience in the early phase of this administration, often attributing prevailing socio-economic and democratic challenges to teething problems of a new government, 2026 naturally marks a period of maturity,” Rafsanjani said. “This is the stage at which policies must begin to deliver visible and measurable benefits to Nigerians, and the role of the National Assembly in achieving this cannot be overstated.”
CISLAC expressed concern that 2026 precedes the 2027 General Elections, a period historically associated with declining legislative productivity due to heightened political activities.
The organisation warned that public anxiety could be further deepened if the proposal to conduct general elections as early as November 2026 is pursued.
“Nigerians are worried and rightly so that governance may once again be sacrificed on the altar of politicking and electioneering,” Rafsanjani noted. “At a time when the country is grappling with economic hardship, worsening insecurity, rising public debt, governance deficits, and declining public trust in institutions, Nigeria cannot afford a distracted or compromised legislature.”
According to CISLAC, the current national challenges demand a fully functional, responsive, and accountable National Assembly, rather than one perceived as absentee, politically distracted, or a rubber stamp for the executive.
As part of its expectations for the 2026 legislative year, CISLAC outlined key priority areas for lawmakers.
First, CISLAC urged lawmakers to remain committed to plenary sessions, committee engagements, and oversight responsibilities, cautioning against frequent absences and unnecessary recesses driven by political ambitions.
Second, the organisation called for the fast tracking of critical legislative reforms, particularly electoral, economic, security, and governance related bills. Drawing lessons from the 2023 general elections, CISLAC stressed that electoral reform remains a core demand of Nigerian citizens and must not be delayed.
Third, CISLAC emphasised the need for strengthened legislative oversight to promote transparency and accountability, especially in budget implementation, public procurement, and the management of public funds.
Rafsanjani warned that failure to exercise robust oversight would further entrench public perception of the Assembly as a rubber stamp institution.
Finally, CISLAC cautioned the National Assembly against becoming an early casualty of the 2027 election cycle.
“Nigerians elected lawmakers to legislate and provide oversight, not to abandon governance long before the official campaign period,” Rafsanjani said. “The legislature is the backbone of any democratic system, and in 2026, the National Assembly must rise to this responsibility with integrity, discipline, and a clear commitment to the public interest.”
CISLAC reaffirmed its readiness to engage constructively with the National Assembly and other stakeholders to advance reforms that strengthen democracy, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria.
