Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday reaffirmed the upper chamber’s commitment to accountability, discipline, and purposeful governance as lawmakers resumed plenary after a 10-week recess.
Gatekeepers News reports that in his opening address, Akpabio reminded senators of their duty to the Nigerian people, urging them to focus on results rather than rhetoric.
“To the citizens of Nigeria, we hear you. You asked us not for excuses, but for results. We will remain accountable and responsive,” he declared.
He cautioned against conduct capable of undermining the integrity of the legislature, describing the National Assembly as a vital pillar of democracy.
“Those who seek to weaken the legislature seek to delete the structure of democracy itself,” Akpabio warned.
The Senate President described governance as a “sacred duty of trust, not theatrics,” adding that competence must take precedence over popularity.
“If our politics must remain, let us choose the right men for the service of our nation — not the loudest voices or those who seek office as an ornament, but those worthy of the people’s trust,” he said.
Akpabio also called for urgent intervention in flood-ravaged communities across the country, assuring victims that the 10th Senate would sustain efforts to alleviate their suffering.
On economic matters, he noted improvements in Nigeria’s oil production and credited the administration of President Bola Tinubu with stabilising state finances.
“Today, no state governor is borrowing to pay salaries,” he said, urging lawmakers to strengthen fiscal discipline nationwide.
Tuesday’s plenary also saw the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) after her six-month suspension.
In a symbolic show of solidarity, some senators appeared in the chamber wearing Palestinian colours, expressing support for a free Palestine.
The Senate and House of Representatives had embarked on their annual legislative recess in July — a routine break in the National Assembly’s calendar that allows lawmakers to attend to constituency and personal responsibilities.
