The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th Senate to openness, accountability, and responsiveness, assured Nigerians that the legislature under his leadership will continue to uphold democratic principles and deliver on the people’s expectations.
Akpabio made this declaration on Tuesday in his address to welcome lawmakers back from a 10-week annual recess, marking the resumption of plenary at the National Assembly. His speech, titled “Steady Hands for a Great Nation,” set a reformative tone for the legislative year ahead.
“To the citizens of Nigeria, we say this: we hear you. We know your expectations. You ask not for excuses but for results; not for noise but for substance,” Akpabio stated. “This Senate will remain open, accountable, and responsive. We will not shrink from scrutiny indeed, we welcome it, for accountability is the lifeblood of democracy.”
He emphasized the central role of the legislature in sustaining democracy and warned against any efforts to undermine it, declaring such moves as attempts to “wreck the substructure of democracy itself.”
Addressing the pressing challenges facing the nation including flooding, insecurity, hunger, power outages, and economic hardship the Senate President extended sympathies to affected citizens and called on lawmakers to rise to the occasion with “uncommon urgency.”
“Our people do not look to us for lamentations; they look to us for action,” he said. “These trials summon us to service to legislate with boldness, reform the economy, attract investments, strengthen education and healthcare, and offer hope and opportunity to the youth.”
He also highlighted the need for constitutional reforms to strengthen federalism, improve governance efficiency, and make democracy more inclusive.
Akpabio pledged a cooperative but independent relationship with the Executive arm of government, stressing that the Senate would support policies that benefit Nigerians while speaking out against those that do not.
“We must wield our power of oversight with vigilance, so that the people’s money is spent for the people’s good,” he added.
Urging his colleagues to embrace their responsibilities with renewed energy, Akpabio called on the Senate to be a “beacon of hope” and a “citadel of democracy.”
“Let history record that in our time, we did not shirk from truth, nor flinch from responsibility, but urged our people toward leaders worthy of their trust,” he concluded.
The resumption signaled a crucial period for the 10th National Assembly, as Nigerians continue to look to their representatives for leadership, reforms, and impactful legislation in the face of ongoing national challenges.
