Senate President says Nigerians should study legislation before criticising lawmakers as Parliament highlights three years of reforms and record legislative output

President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio has defended the performance of the 10th National Assembly, urging Nigerians to study legislation before criticising lawmakers and insisting that Parliament’s contribution to major national reforms has often been misunderstood.

Also read: Akpabio alleges opponents exploit insecurity for politics

Speaking at the opening of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja on Tuesday, Akpabio said the legislature remains Nigeria’s most accessible democratic institution and that the annual initiative was created to promote transparency, strengthen accountability and encourage direct public engagement with the lawmaking process.

The Akpabio Defends 10th Assembly message came as parliamentary leaders showcased what they described as record legislative achievements while acknowledging that public scrutiny remains essential to strengthening democracy.

“I want all of us to attend this Open Week. Please try to read the laws we make. You can question us after you have finished reading the laws. You can also challenge us,” Akpabio said.

Reflecting on recent public debates surrounding the National Assembly’s work, the Senate President recounted how an academic criticised the recently enacted tax reform laws without first examining their contents.

“I saw somebody, a professor, on television condemning the tax bills. We asked him, ‘Which particular section of the Act are you against?’ He said he had not read any of the Acts.

Sometimes before you comment on social media, take time to look at the work we have actually done,” he said.

Akpabio maintained that lawmakers enact legislation with future generations in mind rather than immediate political interests.

“Our job here is to make laws that will last for generations. We are not making laws for ourselves. We are making laws for the protection of Nigeria’s future,” he added.

The Senate President also described the current National Assembly as the most peaceful and productive since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, attributing its performance to sustained cooperation between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“This is the most peaceful and most productive Assembly that we have seen since 1999,” he said.

Although disagreements occasionally arise between both chambers, Akpabio said consensus has consistently prevailed in the national interest.

He also praised security agencies for the recent rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, describing the operation as evidence of the government’s continued efforts to combat insecurity.

“The rescue of those children is an indication that government is not sleeping, that government is working round the clock to ensure that Nigerians can sleep with their two eyes closed,” he stated.

Defending the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Akpabio argued that Nigeria has become less dependent on crude oil revenue, saying states are now receiving improved allocations that have enhanced their capacity to execute projects and meet financial obligations.

Earlier, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas unveiled the Third-Year Legislative Scorecard of the House, revealing that lawmakers had received 2,747 bills over the past three years, passed 363 bills, while 72 had received presidential assent.

According to Abbas, the figures represent the highest legislative output recorded since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999.

“Behind each of those bills stands a Nigerian who believed that the law could better their condition. This morning, I wish to account for how this House has honoured that trust,” he said.

The Speaker also announced that the House would withdraw its earlier state police bill to prioritise consideration of the executive version transmitted by President Tinubu on Tuesday.

Abbas described the presidential proposal as more comprehensive and said it contains stronger safeguards against potential abuse.

“His Excellency the President has now transmitted to the National Assembly an Executive version of the state police bill, one that is more robust and more comprehensive than the version this House earlier passed.

“The House will therefore recall the version it earlier passed and accord the executive bill the expedited consideration that a matter of this urgency deserves,” he said.

Addressing concerns over transparency, Abbas assured Nigerians that the legislation would undergo extensive public hearings and scrutiny before passage.

“Nothing here is concealed. The bill will pass through public hearing and open scrutiny. I give this assurance to every Nigerian that the framework will carry robust safeguards,” he said.

He added that no state would be permitted to establish its own police service without satisfying constitutional requirements relating to accountability, funding, human rights protection and oversight.

Also speaking, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila urged lawmakers to sustain reforms that promote openness and strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.

“Transparency turns constitutional authority into public trust. Inclusion ensures that the voices of our diverse people are not only heard but reflected in national priorities.

Reform keeps our institutions responsive to changing realities and capable of delivering better outcomes,” Gbajabiamila said.

He stressed that the annual Open Week should evolve beyond a ceremonial event into a meaningful platform for dialogue between Parliament and the Nigerian public.

Offering a measured assessment, Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, acknowledged the Assembly’s achievements in constitutional review, legislative modernisation and public engagement but urged lawmakers to intensify oversight of the executive and expand transparency in legislative business.

“The Parliament is at its strongest not when it agrees with the executive, but when it faithfully discharges its constitutional duty to scrutinise executive action, protect public resources and ensure that government remains accountable to the people,” Nwankwo said.

Retired Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, also encouraged legislators to maintain closer consultation with their constituents on issues affecting their communities.

Introduced to improve openness and legislative accountability, the National Assembly Open Week has become an annual platform for citizens to engage directly with Parliament.

Also read: Akpabio demands action against terror sponsors in Nigeria

This year’s edition focuses on constitutional amendment, state policing, women’s political participation, economic reforms, legislative oversight and youth inclusion, reflecting broader efforts to strengthen democratic governance and public trust in the legislative process.