ABUJA – Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday challenged Nigerians to hold members of the National Assembly accountable, declaring that Parliament belongs to the people and should remain open to public scrutiny.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, Akpabio said the initiative was designed to strengthen public confidence in the legislature by encouraging citizens to engage directly with lawmakers and monitor their activities.
“Parliament is not a theatre performed for the people; it is the people’s institution. These walls were never meant to keep Nigerians out. They were built to welcome them in—not merely as spectators of democracy, but as its rightful owners,” he said.
The Senate President urged Nigerians to ask questions, attend public hearings and closely follow legislative activities, stressing that accountability and transparency are essential for a thriving democracy.
“Questions strengthen democracy. Transparency strengthens legitimacy. The more Nigerians understand our work, the stronger our democracy becomes,” he stated.
Akpabio said the annual Open Week provides an opportunity for citizens, students, civil society organisations and the media to interact with lawmakers and gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process.
Highlighting the achievements of the 10th National Assembly, he disclosed that lawmakers had passed more than 100 bills within their first three years in office.
According to him, the legislation covers critical areas including security, tax reforms, education, the new national minimum wage and the establishment of regional development commissions to accelerate growth across the country.
Akpabio also defended the cordial relationship between the National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting that cooperation between both arms of government does not amount to a compromise of legislative independence.
“Parliament does not prove its independence by manufacturing conflict, nor its relevance by opposing for opposition’s sake. Our constitutional duty is to support what advances the national interest, question what requires scrutiny and correct what demands improvement,” he said.
He further revealed that Nigeria had regained a seat on the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union after nearly 60 years, describing it as a vote of confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.
The Senate President assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would continue to promote openness and citizen participation.
“Whether you are here today, watching on television, listening on radio or gathered beneath a mango tree in your village, this Parliament belongs to you,” he added.
He formally declared the 2026 National Assembly Open Week open, urging Nigerians to actively participate in legislative exhibitions, public engagement sessions and policy discussions scheduled throughout the programme.
