Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated that members of the National Assembly were not elected to engage in confrontations with the Executive but to collaborate on policies that promote national development.
Akpabio made this known in an upcoming documentary marking the second anniversary of Bola Tinubu’s administration. Emphasising the need for cooperation between both arms of government, he said lawmakers are expected to work in a bipartisan manner for the country’s progress.
“When elected into the National Assembly, your constituents will not give you boxing gloves. It’s not a boxing tournament,” he said. “You are there to work in a bipartisan manner for the interest of Nigeria.”
He noted that the relationship between the Executive and Legislature has remained cordial over the past two years due to a shared vision for national growth. “If you spend all your energy fighting the Executive, who will work for Nigeria?” he asked.
Akpabio also highlighted the unique composition of the current administration, which includes a President, First Lady, and Vice President—all of whom are former senators.
On legislative priorities, he disclosed that the National Assembly is working on a bill that would mandate government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to prioritise locally assembled vehicles over imported ones. He said this was part of efforts to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign goods and promote local manufacturing.
“We lose billions of dollars annually importing vehicles and other items that can be produced locally,” he said.
He lamented the collapse of Nigeria’s once-thriving manufacturing sectors, including the textile, cotton, groundnut, and palm oil industries, urging a revival of local production to support economic growth.
Akpabio praised the “Nigeria First” policy of the Tinubu administration, saying it deserved legislative support. He revealed ongoing talks with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council to draft laws that promote local production of consumer goods.
“We are going to make laws that ensure almost every item we consume that can be produced in Nigeria is produced in Nigeria,” he said.
He called for greater support for local entrepreneurs, noting that small-scale producers could thrive in Nigeria’s large consumer market.
“Even if you produce vinegar and bag it well, it will fly. If you produce bread, you will be a millionaire considering the kind of population that we have,” he said.
Addressing concerns about legislative independence, Akpabio dismissed claims that the National Assembly acts as a rubber stamp for the Executive. He said lawmakers have rejected some presidential nominees, showing that due scrutiny is applied when necessary.
“Our job is to make sure we cross the T’s and dot the I’s to assist the President in having the best for the Nigerian population.”
The Senate President assured Nigerians that the 10th National Assembly will continue prioritising pro-people legislation supporting the President’s bold reform agenda.
“This government is not a government of theory; it’s a government of action. So, for us in the National Assembly, we are very focused on pro-people legislation,” Akpabio said
He cited key legislative achievements such as the Student Loan Act, tax reform bills, and the Minimum Wage Bill as examples of the Assembly’s commitment to economic and social reforms.
“We have done quite a lot in just two years. I assure Nigerians that more people-focused laws are coming: laws that will reduce hardship, open the economy, and empower young people.
“From the perspective of the National Assembly, we have scrutinised almost every bill that the President has brought. We have aligned it with the Nigerian people’s realities and needs and supported it by ensuring they are speedily passed. We don’t waste time on anything that will enhance the living standard of Nigerians, “he added.
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