Senate President Godswill Akpabio has charged members of the 10th Senate to embrace competence, accountability, and purposeful governance, as the National Assembly resumed plenary on Tuesday after a 10-week annual recess.
Delivering his opening address, Akpabio reminded senators of their core responsibility to deliver tangible results, not excuses, to the Nigerian people.
“To the citizens of Nigeria, we hear you. You asked us not for excuses, but for results. We will remain accountable and responsive,” he said, as reported by Channels Television.
The Senate President emphasized the importance of maintaining order and discipline within the legislature, warning that any attempts to undermine its authority were direct threats to the country’s democratic foundation.
“Those who seek to weaken the legislature seek to delete the structure of democracy itself,” he declared.
Akpabio described governance as a “sacred duty of trust and not theatrics,” urging lawmakers to prioritize competence over popularity or political theatrics.
“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 added.
He also addressed urgent national issues, including recent flood disasters across the country. He assured affected communities that the Senate would take decisive action, pledging the chamber’s continued support in disaster response and mitigation efforts.
On the state of the economy, Akpabio noted improvements in oil production and commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as the stabilisation of state finances.
“Today, no state governor is borrowing to pay salaries,” he stated, while urging fiscal discipline at all levels of government.
Tuesday’s plenary also marked the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), who resumed her seat after a six-month suspension.
In a show of international solidarity, some senators attended the session dressed in Palestinian colours, joining global calls for a free Palestine, reflecting the Senate’s attention to humanitarian concerns beyond Nigeria’s borders.
The Senate had been on its annual recess since July, a tradition that allows lawmakers to engage in constituency work and personal activities while legislative sessions are on hold.
