Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said the 10th National Assembly is committed to serving the collective interest of Nigerians, not non-governmental organizations or individuals funded by the European Union.
Akpabio accused some civil society organizations (CSOs) and public commentators of unfairly attacking the National Assembly without a proper understanding of the legislative process.
He spoke on Saturday at the launch of The Burdens of Legislators in Nigeria, a book authored by former senator Effiong Bob, held at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja. The event was chaired by a former Senate President, David Mark.
According to Akpabio, premature judgments by outsiders, particularly on the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act, were harmful to democratic governance.
“There is a man who heads an NGO or a CSO. He was on television the other day abusing the Senate—the same Senate he makes money from. He said, “This Senate is the worst since the world was founded,” Akpabio said.
He stressed that the Electoral Act amendment process was still ongoing and far from completion.
“The Electoral Act amendment is incomplete, yet they are already on television talking. They don’t understand lawmaking,” he added.
The Senate President explained that legislation goes through several stages, including motions, first and second readings, committee work, public hearings, and the adoption of votes and proceedings.
Until these processes are concluded, he said it was wrong for anyone to conclude that the Senate had failed.
“When we bring out the votes and proceedings, any senator has the right to rise and say, ‘On clause three, this was what we agreed upon.’ Only then can you talk about what the Senate has done or not done,” he said.
Akpabio described some critics as “mouth legislators” and challenged them to contest elections if they truly wanted to participate in lawmaking instead of criticizing from television studios.
He also dismissed claims that resolutions reached during legislative retreats were binding, noting that retreats were consultative forums and not part of the formal lawmaking process.
According to him, attempts by some NGOs to influence senators using externally funded policy papers do not amount to legitimate legislative input.
“We will not be intimidated. Our lawmaking will reflect the feelings of the generality of Nigerians, not that of one NGO or somebody getting money from the European Union,” Akpabio said.
