By George Mgbeleke

As the nation celebrates Democracy on Thursday,the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, declared that the 10th Senate has introduced 844 bills and received 80 petitions from citizens and civil society groups in the country.

Akpabio made the disclosure while speaking at a special joint session of the National Assembly with President Bola Tinubu, to mark the 26th anniversary of Nigeria’s democracy, during which he urged the President to consider establishing a June 12 Museum to commemorate the struggles and sacrifices of Nigeria’s democratic movement.

The chairman of National Assembly explained that, out of the 844 bills introduced to the Senate for consideration in the last two years, 107 bills were at the Committee stage, undergoing scrutiny, 206 bills were awaiting first reading while 409 bills had advanced to second reading.

He also noted that the Senate had passed 96 bills while 52 bills had been assented to by President Tinubu, saying that these legislative efforts focused on governance, economic development, public welfare, and national security.

According to the President of the Senate, the apex legislative Assembly had acted decisively on 26 Executive Bills, showcasing a healthy balance of cooperation and oversight in its engagement with the executive arm, to address key policy areas in the economy.

He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Executive and Legislature in promoting national development, citing examples of countries where executive-legislative collaboration had driven progress, including the United States, Rwanda, Ghana, and South Africa.

Akpabio called on Nigerians to remain committed to the democratic process and work together to build a better future, stressing the need for leaders to prioritize the welfare of citizens and promote national development.

Part of the speech reads: “The 10th National Assembly, which marks its 2nd Anniversary tomorrow, June 13, 2025 has played its part with diligence and distinction. From its inception, the 10th Senate demonstrated a renewed vigor for addressing the country’s complex challenges through purposeful legislation. This commitment is reflected in its extraordinary output: a total of 844 bills have been introduced within its first two years—an unprecedented figure that underscores the Senate’s proactive posture in tackling pressing national issues.

“Out of this impressive volume, 107 bills are currently at the committee stage, undergoing the necessary scrutiny and stakeholder engagement that ensures quality legislation, 206 bills are awaiting first reading, reflecting a robust pipeline of legislative ideas prepared for formal introduction, and 409 bills have advanced to second reading.

“Notably, the Senate has passed 96 bills, a record for any Nigerian Senate at this stage of the legislative cycle. Even more significantly, 52 of these bills have been assented to by the President, translating into enforceable laws that will shape governance, economic development, public welfare, and national security. These bills include the National Education Fund, local government autonomy bill, regional development commissions, tax reforms, universities and tertiary institutions, agricultural institutions etc.

“Moreover, the Tenth Senate has acted decisively on 26 Executive Bills, showcasing a healthy balance of cooperation and oversight in its engagement with the executive arm. These executive-sponsored legislations address key policy areas and benefit from the Senate’s thorough review and refinement before passage.

“Beyond bills, the 10th Senate has received a total of 80 petitions from citizens and civil society. This is a testimony to public trust in the institution. Of these, 18 petitions have been fully adopted, providing redress, transparency, and institutional accountability.

“History teaches us that nations make the greatest progress when the Executive governs with vision, and the Legislature guides with wisdom. But they prosper most when both walk hand-in-hand—not as rivals, but as co-stewards of national trust.

“In the United States, the civil rights Act, and the space race were all made possible through executive-legislative collaboration. In Rwanda and Ghana, transformation was achieved through shared resolve between these two arms of government. In South Africa, Mandela’s dream was realized through executive-legislative collaboration.

“The lesson is clear: where governance is a partnership, progress follows. But where governance is a contest, the people suffer. Therefore as we commemorate 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, we must renew our national commitment to foster collaboration between the different arms of government.

“Democracy is not a gift. It is a trust we must protect. To the youth, you must not treat democracy with apathy. To civil society, you must not let memory fade. To the media, we must be held accountable through responsible journalism. And to every Nigerian, democracy must not be reduced to election days. It must live in our values, our institutions, and our daily lives.

“Let us preserve the memory of June 12. I respectfully urge Mr. President to consider the establishment of a June 12 Museum—a living archive where the stories, artifacts, struggles, and sacrifices of the democratic movement will be housed, preserved, and taught. Nations that forget their past lose the moral compass for their future.

“As President of the Senate, I reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the 10th National Assembly to the cause of the Nigerian people. We will continue to champion every policy that uplifts the poor, empowers our youth, strengthens our economy, and defends the dignity of every citizen and the nation”.