Senate President Akpabio: Lawmakers Are Partners, Not Combatants
National Assembly’s Role in Governance
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has reiterated the importance of legislative-executive cooperation, emphasizing that lawmakers are not elected to fight the executive but to work together for national development.
“When elected into the National Assembly, your constituents will not give you boxing gloves,” Akpabio said in a documentary marking two years of the Tinubu administration. “You are there to work in a bipartisan manner for the interest of Nigeria.”
He stressed that the cordial relationship between both arms of government has yielded tangible results over the past two years.
Legislative Backing for Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy
Pushing Local Procurement and Industrial Revival
Akpabio revealed that the National Assembly is working on a bill that would mandate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritize purchasing locally assembled vehicles over imported ones.
“We have started the bill for enacting legislation to enable us first purchase automobiles from Nigerian companies before thinking of importing them,” he said, highlighting how Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to vehicle imports.
The Senate President pointed to the collapse of key sectors such as textiles, cotton, groundnut, and palm oil as areas requiring urgent legislative attention.
“Over 50 textile companies have left Nigeria. Look at countries like Malaysia that have leveraged palm oil to boost their economies,” Akpabio said.
Supporting Local Entrepreneurs and MSMEs
From Vinegar to Bread: Tapping Nigeria’s Massive Market
Akpabio called for stronger support for local entrepreneurs, citing the enormous market potential in Nigeria’s population of over 200 million.
“Even if you produce vinegar and bag it well, it will fly. If you produce bread, you will be a millionaire,” he said.
He assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would pass legislation to support industrial growth and reduce import dependence, in line with the Tinubu administration’s “Nigeria First” agenda.
Checks and Balances Remain Intact
“We Are Not a Rubber Stamp Legislature”
Contrary to claims of a passive legislature, Akpabio noted that the National Assembly had rejected some presidential nominees when necessary.
“People forget that we have made enemies by rejecting some of the nominees that the President sent to us. It’s not everything the President brings that he takes back the same way,” he stated.
He stressed that the role of the legislature is to scrutinize executive proposals, align them with national interests, and act in the best interest of Nigerians.
Legislative Milestones Under Tinubu’s Administration
Pro-People Laws Passed by the 10th National Assembly
Akpabio listed key legislative interventions that support President Tinubu’s reform agenda:
Student Loan Act (NELFUND): Expanding access to higher education.
Minimum Wage Bill: Addressing income inequality.
Tax Reform Bills: Creating a fairer, more efficient tax system.
“This government is not a government of theory; it’s a government of action,” Akpabio said. “From the National Assembly’s perspective, we are focused on laws that reduce hardship, open the economy, and empower young people.”
