After a break of more than two months, the National Assembly resumed plenary on Tuesday with a promise to do more for Nigerians.
Members of the bicameral legislative chambers told the citizens that although the ongoing reforms by President Bola Tinubu were yielding positive results, Nigerians still faced challenges.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen gave the assurances in their welcome address to the returnee federal lawmakers.
They listed floods, insecurity, high cost of living, and erratic power supply as some of the challenges facing Nigerians but assured that the National Assembly would legislate with boldness and collaborate with the Executive to tackle the challenges.
Akpabio said: “Our people do not look to us for lamentations; they look to us for action. The banners of terrorism and banditry still threaten the countryside.
“The cost of living weighs upon the family table like an iron chain. The flickering of our national grid leaves cities in darkness and commerce in paralysis.
“These trials summon us to service of uncommon urgency — and to partnership with the Executive Arm, that together we rewrite the story of our nation.
“We must legislate with boldness. We must press forward with reforms to steady our economy, draw investment, broaden the tax base, and nurture growth.
“We must strike hard at the enemies of ignorance and disease by strengthening education and healthcare. We must give the youths of Nigeria not only hope but opportunity.
“We must revisit the Constitution — to make our federalism stronger, our governance more efficient, and our democracy more inclusive. Above all, we must wield our power of oversight with vigilance, so that the people’s money is spent for the people’s good.
“We must revisit the Constitution — to make our federalism stronger, our governance must be efficient, and our democracy more inclusive.
“Above all, we must wield our power of oversight with vigilance, so that the people’s money is spent for the people’s good.”
The Senate President, who said 33 million Nigerians were facing acute hunger due to flooding, also noted that since fuel subsidy removal, no governor had borrowed money to pay workers’ salaries.
He sympathised with flood, boat accident, and terror attack victims in some states and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died in such circumstances.
Akpabio said: “While our hearts grieve, our hopes endure because of glimmers of progress.
“I can confidently say that through engineering by President Bola Tinubu and his team, no state government today is borrowing to pay salaries. So, for this, we say kudos to the administration.
“We must ensure that this blessing does not become another fleeting windfall, but a foundation for fiscal discipline, infrastructure renewal, and job creation.”
In the House of Representatives, Speaker Abbas said that although the nation has made meaningful progress on the part of growth, Nigerians expect more deliberate action from members to improve their lives.
He stressed that the time has come for them to be more forward-looking and turn their attention to several urgent priorities, including an amendment to the Constitution, in the coming months.
Abbas said the progress made so far was incomplete.
His words:”The responsibilities before us are substantial, and the progress we have made so far is meaningful but incomplete.
“The Nigerian people look to us for more; they expect deliberate action that improves their daily lives.
“The Renewed Hope government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pursued reforms to stabilise the economy, enhance security, and attract investment. These efforts require a legislature that provides rigorous oversight, crafts sound laws, and engages constructively with all arms of government.
“Despite political and economic challenges, we have strengthened internal capacity, updated our rules, and expanded citizen participation.
“Between June 2023 and mid-2025, the House considered 2,263 bills, passed 237, and secured Presidential assent for 50, covering power reform, student loans, cybersecurity, tax policy, and regional development. Our oversight is becoming more rigorous, with ongoing investigations and financial recoveries.
“While progress has been made, Nigerians still experience high living costs, underemployment, and insecurity in some areas. These challenges present opportunities for us to implement targeted legislative actions and foster ongoing engagement to create a brighter future for all.
“Our goal is to produce a new Electoral Act that stands the test of time.
“The tasks ahead are demanding but achievable. Nigerians will judge us not by party affiliations but by the results we deliver.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
