By Janet Salihu
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Senator Sunday Karimi, has declared that the 10th Senate has lived up to the expectations of Nigerians, citing landmark legislative achievements and the chamber’s collaborative relationship with the executive arm.
Speaking in Abuja as the Senate marked its second year since inauguration, Senator Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, emphasized that the upper legislative chamber has not only passed impactful bills but has remained responsive to the yearnings of the Nigerian people.
“It’s been two years since the 10th Senate was inaugurated. So far, so good, we have at least performed to the expectations of our people,” he said. “A lot of bills and motions that impact positively on our people have been passed into law.”
He cited the swift passage of the salary increment for Nigerian workers and the student loan scheme — the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) — as examples of the Senate’s commitment to improving the welfare of citizens.
“These are practical interventions. The NELFUND bill, now an Act, allows Nigerian students to access educational loans easily. It’s a game changer,” Karimi noted.
The senator also highlighted the creation of regional development commissions as a major legislative milestone aimed at addressing developmental disparities across the country.
“We created all these commissions through the legislature to impact our people. It was a deliberate move by the National Assembly to spur growth across the regions,” he said.
He also listed other legislative achievements including the establishment of new universities and institutions, and the passage of tax reform bills which, according to him, are expected to boost the nation’s revenue and support development across all levels of government.
Responding to criticisms that the current Senate functions as a “rubber stamp” to the executive, Karimi dismissed such claims as unfounded.
“If you call it a rubber stamp Senate, that’s a mistake. We are not out to fight this government; we are out to work with it to impact positively on our people,” he stated.
He revealed that the Senate has had its fair share of disagreements with the executive, but most were resolved behind closed doors in the national interest.
“In one instance, President Tinubu was advised to remove the zonal intervention projects from the budget. But our leadership, particularly Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stood firm. He told the President that removing the projects would cost him the respect of his colleagues. Not only was the intervention fund restored, but it was also increased,” Karimi disclosed.
He said the zonal intervention projects remain a vital tool for lawmakers to deliver the dividends of democracy to their constituents.
As the 10th Senate approaches the halfway mark of its tenure, Karimi maintained that the chamber remains committed to deepening democracy and legislative reforms that benefit all Nigerians.
