National Assembly Will Remain Frank and Firm with the Executive,” Akpabio Responds to Rubber Stamp Allegations

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has reaffirmed that the National Assembly will maintain a “frank and firm” relationship with the executive arm of government, rejecting suggestions that the legislature serves as a rubber stamp.

Speaking on Tuesday as the Senate resumed plenary after its recess, Akpabio said the legislature must rise above theatrics and focus on delivering meaningful leadership. He described leadership as a duty that requires integrity and substance, not performance or showmanship.

“Leadership is not a carnival, and governance is not a stage for theatrics. Let no one mistake the nation’s destiny for a costume drama, nor confuse applause with achievement,” he said.

Akpabio emphasised that lawmakers must legislate with courage and wisdom, ensuring that their actions improve citizens’ lives rather than serve political grandstanding. “Our relations with the executive shall remain frank and firm — neither obsequious nor obstructive. Where policies raise our people, we shall lend our strength; where they imperil them, we shall speak on their behalf,” he added.

He congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians on the country’s 65th Independence anniversary, describing the nation’s progress as a “relay — one generation handing the torch of faith and sacrifice to the next.” The Senate President also extended condolences to families affected by recent tragedies, including the Kogi boat mishap, the Katsina mosque attack, and the killing of forest guards in Kwara State.

Akpabio sympathised with victims of flooding in Bayelsa, Sokoto, Zamfara and other states, urging stronger collaboration between federal and state governments to prevent future disasters.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s challenges, Akpabio expressed optimism about emerging signs of progress, citing the increase in oil production to 1.8 million barrels per day. He called for prudent management of the gains, saying, “We must ensure that this blessing does not become another fleeting windfall, but a foundation for fiscal discipline, infrastructure renewal, and job creation.”

The Senate President also raised concerns about rising food insecurity, noting that over 33 million Nigerians currently face hunger. “Hunger cannot be defeated with words; it requires policy, budget, and will,” he said, urging lawmakers to prioritise agriculture, mechanisation, and rural development.

Reiterating the importance of legislative independence, Akpabio warned that weakening the National Assembly would endanger democracy itself. “The foundation of every democracy is its legislature. Those who seek to weaken the legislature, in truth, seek to wreck the substructure of democracy itself,” he cautioned.

He urged senators to return to their duties with renewed zeal and a clear sense of purpose. “Let this Senate be remembered as an instrument of national transformation, a citadel of democracy, and a beacon of hope,” Akpabio concluded.