Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, defended the performance of the 10th National Assembly, urging Nigerians to study legislation before criticizing lawmakers.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, Akpabio said many criticisms of Parliament stem from poor understanding of the legislative process and the laws passed by the National Assembly.
The event, themed “Three Years of the 10th National Assembly: Advocacy, Transparency, Inclusion and Reforms,” is aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and greater public engagement in lawmaking.
Akpabio said the legislature welcomes scrutiny but insisted criticism should be informed.
Referring to the recent tax reform laws, he recalled a television interview in which a university professor criticized the legislation but admitted he had not read its provisions.
According to him, lawmakers are elected to enact enduring laws that protect Nigeria’s future rather than serve short-term political interests.
The Senate President also described the 10th National Assembly as the most peaceful and productive since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule on May 29, 1999, attributing its record to collaboration between the Senate and the House of Representatives.
He commended security agencies for the recent rescue of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State, saying the operation underscored government’s commitment to addressing insecurity.
Akpabio also defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that they have diversified government revenue and improved states’ fiscal capacity.
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Earlier, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas unveiled the House’s third-year legislative scorecard, revealing that since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on June 13, 2023, lawmakers have received 2,747 bills, passed 363, while 72 have been signed into law.
He described the figures as the highest legislative output by any National Assembly since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999.
Abbas also announced that the House would withdraw its earlier state police bill to give priority to the executive version transmitted by President Tinubu on July 14, 2026, describing it as broader and better equipped with safeguards against abuse.
He assured Nigerians that the bill would undergo public hearings and rigorous scrutiny before passage, adding that any state police structure would be subject to strict constitutional provisions on funding, accountability, oversight and human rights.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, urged lawmakers to deepen transparency and public engagement, saying Parliament must remain open, accountable and responsive.
Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, acknowledged the Assembly’s progress but challenged lawmakers to strengthen oversight of the executive, conclude the constitutional amendment process and advance reforms that promote accountability, electoral integrity and inclusive governance.
Retired Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, urged legislators to maintain close consultation with their constituents on national issues.
The event was attended by former Speakers Aminu Bello Masari, Patricia Etteh and Yakubu Dogara, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha and other senior government officials.
The annual National Assembly Open Week is designed to improve legislative transparency, strengthen accountability and encourage public participation in parliamentary affairs.