Akpabio Sounds Alarm as Senate Nears Crucial Final Phase

President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, on Tuesday charged members of the National Assembly to embrace urgency, discipline and reform-driven lawmaking as the Tenth Senate enters what he described as the “final stretch” of its legislative journey.

Addressing senators at the first plenary sitting of 2026 after the Christmas and New Year recess, Akpabio said with less than one year and five months left in the life of the current Assembly, the Senate must now prioritise value over volume and impact over rhetoric.

“This is the final stretch of the marathon, and it is the stretch that separates participation from performance,” Akpabio said. “It demands urgency without panic, reform without recklessness, and productivity without compromise of standards.”

The Senate President urged lawmakers to resist what he termed “legislative clutter,” insisting that bills passed in the closing phase of the Assembly must directly respond to Nigeria’s most urgent needs, particularly in the areas of economic growth, security, institutional reform and public confidence.

Welcoming senators back from recess, Akpabio expressed confidence that the break provided lawmakers with the opportunity to reconnect with their constituents and better understand the human realities behind legislative decisions. He said Nigerians’ expectations of leadership had not diminished during the recess but had become “more urgent.”

However, the Senate’s resumption was overshadowed by the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who represented Nasarawa North Senatorial District. Akpabio described the late senator as a diligent and humble public servant whose contributions would be deeply missed.

“His passing is a profound loss not only to his family and constituents, but to this institution and to our country,” Akpabio said, as the Senate observed a minute of silence in his honour.

Turning to national issues, the Senate President acknowledged the persistence of economic hardship, security challenges and social pressures, while commending Nigerians for what he called their “quiet resilience” and enduring belief in a better future.

He welcomed ongoing military collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in the fight against terrorism, noting that such partnerships reinforced national security efforts. At the same time, he extended condolences to families affected by insecurity, stressing that security was not an abstract concept but a matter of lives, homes and futures.

Akpabio also drew attention to a recent United Nations warning that as many as 35 million Nigerians could face hunger in 2026, describing the projection as “sobering” and demanding urgent legislative and policy responses.

“This reality demands a doubling of effort through legislation, oversight and collaboration to strengthen food security, protect the vulnerable and ensure that no Nigerian is abandoned to despair,” he said.

As political activities begin to intensify ahead of the next electoral cycle, the Senate President cautioned political actors against actions that could undermine national unity and stability. He called for civility, conscience and patriotism in political competition, warning that ambition must not be allowed to endanger Nigeria’s democracy.

Akpabio also urged Nigerians to continue to remember citizens still held captive by kidnappers and insurgents, describing their continued captivity as “a national wound” and reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to their safe return.

Reiterating the Senate’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Programme, Akpabio encouraged Nigerians to remain hopeful, insisting that perseverance, cooperation and shared sacrifice were necessary to realise a more secure and productive nation.

On the legislative agenda ahead, the Senate President said budget consideration would require “decisive action,” including rigorous scrutiny, responsible passage and faithful implementation. He stressed the importance of sustained cooperation between the legislature and the executive, guided by constitutional responsibility rather than political convenience.

“This must be a legacy phase — a time of house-cleaning, completing what we started and leaving behind a legislative house that is orderly, principled and functional,” he said.

Akpabio concluded by reminding senators of their core mandate as representatives of the Nigerian people, urging them to act as the nation’s ears, eyes and legislative voice.

“The clock is running, the nation is watching, and history is taking notes,” he said. “Let it be said that when the Tenth Senate reached the final stretch, it did not slow down, it did not look away, and it did not leave the work unfinished.”