By Abbanobi-Eku Onyekachi, Abuja
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged lawmakers to meet the weighty expectations of Nigerians with integrity, unity, and legislative action. Akpabio who said this while welcoming the lawmakers
Easter and Eid-el-Fitr holidays on Tuesday, called for unity and action amidst Nigeria’s challenges.
Akpabio emphasized the symbolic importance of the holy seasons, describing them as “moral mirrors and national metaphors” for the sacrifice, patience, and unity Nigeria urgently needs.
Speaking on key challenges and highlighting economic strains, he decried rising cost of living and instability in the energy sector. Noting with concern the ongoing violent conflicts in the South-East and North-West, herder-farmer clashes in the North-Central, and environmental degradation in the South-South, he described them as, “the bleeding wounds of the republic”
While speaking on legislative action, he called for the support of President Bola Tinubu’s administration efforts to address these challenges
Shedding light on the legislative priorities, he discloses that the Senate plans to focus on key areas, including:
Bills targeting security sector reform to tackle escalating insecurity; Review of Tax Reform Bills to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system; Upcoming bills aimed at improving the education sector; Legislative agenda focused on leveraging technology for national growth and; Initiatives to empower Nigerian youth and enhance their participation in the economy
Calling for action, Akpabio urged lawmakers to approach their duties with patriotism, integrity, and bipartisan commitment, prioritizing debate over division and governance with grace. He emphasized that the Senate’s agenda includes rigorous oversight of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for efficiency and transparency.
“We are under watch and no test must find us wanting. No challenge must catch us unprepared,” he stated and assured Nigerians that the Senate has returned to work with renewed determination, committed to building a nation where peace and progress are a reality.
