Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged State Houses of Assembly to strengthen their oversight functions to ensure that public funds are effectively utilised to improve the welfare of citizens and create jobs.
He made the call at the 2025 Convocation Ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies in collaboration with the University of Benin, held in Abuja on Monday.
Represented by Senator Aminu Iya Abbas, Akpabio said the 10th National Assembly had, through effective oversight, contributed to increased government revenue, which had in turn led to higher allocations to both the federal and state governments. He emphasised that such gains must be reflected in better living conditions for Nigerians.
Akpabio commended NILDS for its consistency in legislative capacity building, policy research and institutional development, described the convocation as a demonstration of the institute’s commitment to national growth. He congratulated the graduands and urged them to apply their acquired knowledge to the service of the country.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the Leader of the House, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration were beginning to yield results. He noted that inflation had declined below 20 per cent and that the naira was appreciating against major global currencies. He explained that although the country was not yet at its economic destination, the trajectory was now healthier than before.
Abbas assured that the 10th House of Representatives would complement the executive’s fiscal and tax reforms by improving the budget process to ensure timely preparation, enactment, and oversight.
In his convocation lecture, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, stressed the need to prevent democratic regression and strengthen electoral integrity. He called for adequate funding, capacity development, and professionalism within the electoral management system, noting that accountability for electoral offences was essential to building public trust.
Earlier, Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, appealed for increased government funding for tertiary institutions, warned that poor financing undermines human capacity development and graduate quality. He urged the federal and state governments to prioritise education funding in the 2026 budget and to find a lasting solution to the frequent industrial crises in the university system.
The convocation ceremony witnessed the graduation of master’s, postgraduate diploma, and higher national diploma recipients, with Prof Sulaiman describing the event as a celebration of academic excellence and resilience.
