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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, on Tuesday urged senators to handle deliberations on the national budget with diligence and a strong sense of responsibility, describing the spending plan as a crucial instrument for translating national priorities into policies that affect citizens.
Speaking at the resumption of plenary after the Senate’s short legislative break, Akpabio stressed that the budget must ultimately improve the welfare of ordinary Nigerians and address their everyday economic realities.
According to him, the budget should reflect the aspirations of citizens across different sectors of society — from farmers and traders to students and workers whose daily efforts sustain the country’s economy.
“It is my earnest hope that every diligence has been exercised by our vigilant and patriotic sectoral committees to ensure that the budget reflects, as faithfully as possible, the aspirations and yearnings of the Nigerian people — the farmer who tills the soil, the trader who labours in the marketplace, the student who studies by lamplight, and the worker whose daily effort sustains the engines of our economy,” he said.
The Senate President described the national budget as more than a compilation of financial figures, noting that it represents government’s priorities and the direction of national development.
“Among the pressing matters before this chamber stands the national budget — that great ledger of national purpose in which the hopes of millions are translated into the language of public policy,” he stated.
“A budget is more than figures upon paper. It is a declaration of national intention. It tells our citizens where we choose to invest our energies, what priorities we pursue, and what future we seek to build.”
Akpabio further stressed the need for lawmakers to ensure that public resources are deployed in ways that strengthen institutions, promote development and expand opportunities for citizens.
“We must therefore ensure that public resources are deployed in ways that promote development, strengthen institutions, expand opportunity, and uplift the lives of our citizens,” he added.
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Reflecting on the broader responsibilities of lawmakers, Akpabio said that although legislative sittings may pause occasionally, governance and the expectations of Nigerians remain constant.
“While legislatures may adjourn, the life of a nation never pauses. The hopes of our people do not sleep. The burdens of governance do not take leave,” he said.
He also urged Nigerians to actively engage their elected representatives rather than relying solely on social media to express grievances.
“In this age of instantaneous communication, social media has expanded with astonishing speed. Yet we must remind ourselves that while social media may raise an alarm, it is the institutions of democracy that must provide the remedy,” he noted.
“The Senate is not merely a theatre of debate; it is a workshop of solutions.”
The Senate President encouraged citizens to bring their concerns directly to lawmakers, noting that effective representation remains a central pillar of democratic governance.
“Engage your representatives. Bring your concerns to those whom you have entrusted with the responsibility of speaking for you. For it is through the instrument of representation that grievances are transformed into policy and concerns into action,” he said.
Akpabio also used the occasion to acknowledge the passing of the senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Barinada Mpigi, describing him as a committed legislator whose service in the National Assembly was marked by dedication to democratic ideals and the welfare of his constituents.
The Senate President further noted that the resumption of plenary coincides with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Christian season of Lent, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of discipline, humility and compassion associated with both periods.
