Jane Salihu
President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, has called on members of the Tenth Senate to approach the remaining period of the Assembly with renewed urgency, discipline and purpose, declaring that the legislature has entered the “final stretch” of its mandate.
Akpabio gave the charge in his welcome address at the first plenary sitting of 2026 following the Christmas and New Year recess, stressing that history would judge the Senate not by the quantity of laws passed, but by their impact on the lives of Nigerians.
Welcoming senators back to the chamber, the Senate President said the recess period should have provided lawmakers the opportunity to reconnect with their constituents and return better informed about the realities facing Nigerians. He expressed hope that senators were refreshed and ready for the demanding legislative work ahead.
However, the session opened on a sombre note as Akpabio announced the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who represented Nasarawa North Senatorial District. Describing the late lawmaker as a diligent and humble public servant, Akpabio said his passing was a profound loss to the Senate and the nation. The chamber observed a minute of silence in his honour.
Turning to national issues, the Senate President noted that Nigeria continued to grapple with economic pressures, security challenges and social demands, while citizens showed resilience and an enduring belief in a better future. He said Nigerians were calling for leadership that listens, reforms that work and governance that rewards integrity and honest labour.
Akpabio commended ongoing military collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in the fight against terrorism, describing such partnerships as vital to national security. He also extended condolences to families affected by insecurity across the country, emphasising that security concerns were about real lives and communities, not abstract statistics.
He further expressed concern over a recent United Nations warning that up to 35 million Nigerians could face hunger this year, describing the situation as sobering and requiring urgent legislative and policy responses to strengthen food security and protect vulnerable citizens.
As political activities gradually intensify, Akpabio urged political parties and actors to conduct themselves with civility, conscience and patriotism, warning that Nigeria’s unity and stability must not be sacrificed on the altar of ambition. He also called on Nigerians to continue praying for citizens still held in captivity, describing their situation as a “national wound.”
The Senate President encouraged continued public support for the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Programme, expressing optimism that perseverance, cooperation and shared sacrifice could deliver a more secure and compassionate Nigeria.
Addressing the lawmakers directly, Akpabio said the Tenth Senate now had less than one year and five months left in its tenure, making the current period a decisive phase. He said the final stretch required “urgency without panic, reform without recklessness, and productivity without compromise of standards.”
According to him, the Senate must prioritise reform-driven legislation that promotes economic growth, strengthens institutions, secures lives and property, and restores confidence in the Nigerian state, cautioning against legislative clutter, he urged senators to focus on laws that are timely, necessary and impactful.
Akpabio also described the period as a legacy phase, calling for the completion of unfinished business and the removal of institutional bottlenecks to leave behind a functional and principled legislature.
On the 2026 budget, the Senate President said it demanded decisive action through rigorous scrutiny, responsible passage and faithful implementation, adding that sustained cooperation with the Executive, guided by constitutional responsibility and mutual respect, remained essential.
Reaffirming the role of the National Assembly, he said senators were in the chamber to serve Nigerians by giving voice to their hopes and protection to their rights.
“This is our moment of reckoning—not one of fear, but of purpose,” he said, urging lawmakers to ensure that the Tenth Senate would be remembered as a body that finished strong and honoured the trust placed in it by Nigerians.
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