A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Festus Adefiranye, has stated that the National Assembly’s oversight function is a tool for ensuring accountability, not for intimidating government institutions.

Adefiranye, who represents the Ile Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency of Ondo State, made this clarification while speaking to journalists after receiving an award for “Most Outstanding Honourable in Constituency Project Delivery.”

He explained that the primary role of inviting agencies for scrutiny is to monitor and verify that public funds are spent for their intended purposes.

“It’s a wrong mindset to believe that anytime committees of the National Assembly invite respondents… they’re doing so to bring accusation against them or intimidate them,” Adefiranye said. “The principal responsibility… is lawmaking, which includes oversight on all matters for which laws are made.”

Addressing the ‘Rubber Stamp’ Tag

When questioned about public perception that the 10th Assembly is a “rubber stamp” for the executive, Adefiranye defended the legislature’s collaborative approach. He argued that constant conflict with the executive is not a sign of bravery but leads to governmental slowdown.

He commended the Assembly’s leadership for “tactically and skillfully” fostering a beneficial relationship with the executive, even at the risk of public criticism, and urged citizens to assess governance objectively rather than emotionally.

The lawmaker also highlighted his legislative achievements, including sponsoring four bills for a federal medical centre and an entrepreneurship university in his constituency.