Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the performance of the 10th National Assembly, urging Nigerians to study legislation before criticising lawmakers. He said many of the criticisms directed at the legislature stem from a poor understanding of the lawmaking process.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, Akpabio described the parliament as the country’s most accessible democratic institution, saying the annual event was designed to promote transparency, accountability and greater public engagement. The theme of this year’s event is “Three Years of the 10th National Assembly: Advocacy, Transparency, Inclusion and Reforms.”
Akpabio encouraged Nigerians to scrutinise laws only after reading them, citing an instance in which a professor criticised recently passed tax reform legislation without examining its provisions. He stressed that lawmakers enact laws to protect Nigeria’s long-term interests rather than for short-term political gains.
The Senate President also described the current National Assembly as the most peaceful and productive since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. He attributed its performance to close collaboration between the Senate and the House of Representatives, despite occasional disagreements between both chambers.
He commended security agencies for rescuing abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, describing the operation as evidence of the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity. Akpabio also defended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, saying they had reduced Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil revenue while improving states’ financial capacity.
Earlier, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas unveiled the House’s third-year legislative scorecard, revealing that lawmakers had received 2,747 bills in three years, passed 363 and secured presidential assent for 72. He described the figures as the highest legislative output since 1999.
Abbas also announced that the House would withdraw its earlier state police bill to give priority to the executive version recently submitted by President Bola Tinubu. According to him, the new proposal is more comprehensive and includes stronger safeguards against abuse. He assured Nigerians that the bill would undergo public hearings and extensive scrutiny before passage.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, urged lawmakers to sustain reforms that promote transparency, accountability and public trust. He said constructive cooperation between the executive and legislature strengthens governance without undermining the independence of either arm of government.
Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, acknowledged the Assembly’s achievements but urged lawmakers to strengthen oversight of the executive, improve transparency and complete key reforms, including constitutional amendments, electoral reforms and legislation to enhance women’s political representation. He said Parliament’s legacy would ultimately depend on its ability to ensure accountability and protect the public interest.
Retired Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, also called on lawmakers to maintain close consultations with their constituents on issues affecting them. The event attracted prominent political leaders, former presiding officers of the National Assembly and senior government officials.
