Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has highlighted the need for closer collaboration between security agencies and the National Assembly to ensure the safety of lawmakers in the face of economic and security challenges.
Speaking on Friday at a rare joint sitting of the National Assembly, just before President Bola Tinubu presented the 2026 budget estimates, Akpabio warned that worsening insecurity and economic hardship have heightened risks for legislators, underscoring the need for stronger institutional coordination on national security.
“Too many Nigerians continue to struggle with the cost of living, and too many communities remain burdened by insecurity,” he said. “Whenever we meet, a senator or a representative carries the pain of bereaved families from his constituency. These tragedies are not statistics; they are human lives.”
Akpabio stressed that lawmakers, often on the frontlines of public engagement, must be adequately protected to carry out their constitutional duties effectively. His remarks come amid concerns over the withdrawal of police personnel attached to lawmakers, a move aimed at redeploying officers to frontline policing. While he did not explicitly reference the withdrawal order, his comments were widely seen as a call for the executive to ensure legislators’ safety.
The Senate President linked lawmakers’ security to broader institutional cooperation, stressing that national progress depends on harmony between the Executive and Legislature. Drawing lessons from countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, he said nations thrive when institutions collaborate and falter when rivalry dominates.
“History teaches us that great nations are not built by perfect conditions, but by leaders who make hard choices together with their Parliament”, he said.
Highlighting the 10th National Assembly’s achievements, Akpabio noted landmark legislation on security, fiscal reform, governance, judicial administration, and social protection. These reforms, he said, aim to strengthen the nation’s security architecture, improve intelligence coordination, and restore public trust in government institutions.
However, he cautioned that legislative effectiveness cannot be sustained if lawmakers themselves feel unsafe. “The task of nation-building requires patience, sacrifice, and unity of purpose”, Akpabio said. “But those entrusted with this responsibility must also be protected.”
He also acknowledged public hardship and stressed that legislators remain committed to ensuring that every naira appropriated delivers value to Nigerians.
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