The leadership of the Senate has cautioned the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, against making public statements that could create friction between the National Assembly and the executive led by President Bola Tinubu.

The warning came after Badaru publicly dismissed a planned two-day national security summit by the Senate, stating that such gatherings were unnecessary in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

Earlier, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the minister’s remarks as demoralizing and unhelpful. Speaking at plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele criticised the minister’s comments, warning that such remarks could undermine legislative initiatives and strain relations with the Presidency.

At a ministerial briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Badaru had said the armed forces were already better equipped and more sophisticated than insurgents, and emphasised that effective strategy, not summits, was the key to national security.

The summit, the Minister said, will give input for the strategy, but operational orders come from the Defence Chiefs, not from public discourse. Reacting, Akpabio expressed disappointment, stating that open criticism of the Senate’s resolutions could worsen the already dire security situation. Akpabio and Bamidele commended the 10th Senate for staying focused on national priorities despite distractions.