By Hon Eseme Eyiboh mnipr

When Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio assumed office as President of Nigeria’s 10th Senate in June 2023, expectations were understandably high. Nigeria was grappling with economic headwinds, persistent security challenges, and growing public demand for more responsive and effective democratic institutions. In such a climate, the National Assembly was expected not merely to make laws, but to provide leadership, strengthen oversight, and restore public confidence in governance.
Three years into his tenure, the Senate under Akpabio has increasingly sought to position itself as a stable, proactive, and policy-driven legislative institution. Through a combination of legislative initiatives, institutional reforms, parliamentary diplomacy, and engagement with critical national issues, the Senate has played a visible role in shaping the country’s governance landscape. While critics have raised concerns on certain matters—an inevitable feature of democratic leadership—the overall record presents a legislature that has remained active, cohesive, and focused on its constitutional responsibilities during a period of significant national transition.
The foremost responsibility of any legislature is lawmaking, and in this regard, the 10th Senate has maintained an ambitious legislative agenda. Hundreds of bills have been introduced and processed, many of them directly targeting Nigeria’s pressing economic, fiscal, and governance challenges. According to Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, in a midterm scorecard released in June 2025, the upper chamber introduced 983 bills and passed 108 into law between June 2023 and June 2025. This included 83 bills passed in the 2024/2025 legislative year alone, compared to 25 bills in the 9th Senate in the same period. Official legislative records also indicate a significant rise in legislative activity compared to previous assemblies, suggesting that the 10th Senate has been notably active by legislative output metrics.
More significant than the volume of legislation, however, has been the Senate’s focus on measures with far-reaching national implications. The emphasis has not been on legislative activity for its own sake, but on advancing reforms designed to address some of Nigeria’s most pressing economic and governance challenges. The Senate has prioritised reforms aimed at stimulating economic growth, improving public finance management, strengthening institutions, and expanding social protection.
One of the defining legislative undertakings of the 10th Senate has been its commitment to tax reform and fiscal modernization. Nigeria’s tax system has long been criticised for fragmentation, multiple taxation, weak compliance, and excessive dependence on oil revenue. Under Akpabio’s leadership, the Senate pursued reforms aimed at simplifying tax administration, broadening the tax base, promoting digital compliance, and providing greater relief for small businesses and low-income earners. In May 2025, the Senate passed four major tax reform bills which, according to the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms and now Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, could increase Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio from about 10 per cent in 2023 to approximately 18 per cent by the end of 2027.
These reforms are significant because Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains among the lowest in Africa, limiting government revenue and public investment capacity. By supporting measures aimed at modernising tax collection and reducing leakages, the Senate sought to create a more sustainable fiscal framework capable of supporting infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social services.
Beyond fiscal reforms, the Senate has devoted significant legislative attention to education, regional development, agriculture, energy, and the digital economy. Bills relating to tertiary education, regional development etc commissions, agricultural growth, and public sector modernization have featured prominently on its agenda. Notable examples include the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024, which reportedly facilitated over one million applications through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, and the Electricity Act (Amendment) 2023, which expanded the role of states and private investors in electricity generation and distribution.
To strengthen the country’s electoral process, the Senate also pursued amendments to the Electoral Act aimed at improving internal party democracy and clarifying procedures around party primaries and consensus candidacies. Supporters of the reforms argue that clearer legal definitions and procedural safeguards could help reduce arbitrary candidate selection and strengthen transparency within political parties. Senate Leader Bamidele has also indicated that additional reforms, including possible provisions for diaspora voting and early voting for security personnel, remain priorities for the remaining legislative period.
Beyond lawmaking, one of the less visible but significant developments of the 10th Senate has been institutional stability. Historically, Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber has often been characterised by prolonged leadership disputes, partisan confrontations, and disruptions capable of slowing governance processes. Under Akpabio’s leadership, however, the Senate has largely maintained operational cohesion and stability.
Plenary debates have generally remained issue-focused rather than personality-driven, while contentious national matters have often been managed through consultation and negotiation. This atmosphere of relative stability has reduced legislative deadlocks and allowed committees to function with greater consistency.
The Senate President’s leadership style has leaned heavily toward consultation and consensus-building. In a politically diverse chamber comprising members of the APC, PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, SDP, and other minority parties, Akpabio has consistently emphasized bipartisan cooperation over rigid partisanship. Committee appointments, major motions, and sensitive legislative debates have reflected efforts to accommodate competing interests while preserving institutional cohesion.
As a result, the 10th Senate has witnessed substantial cross-party cooperation on key national issues, even though disagreements naturally remain part of democratic governance.
Another area in which the Senate has demonstrated effectiveness is budgetary coordination. For three consecutive fiscal years, the National Assembly passed the national budget before the start of the new financial year. The 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion, for instance, was approved on December 30, 2023, ahead of the fiscal cycle. The Senate also passed the 2024 and 2025 appropriations totalling N43.5 trillion, although implementation timelines for some projects were subsequently extended to facilitate completion.
This marked a departure from previous cycles characterised by delayed budget approvals and implementation uncertainty. Timely budget passage improves predictability for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, enhances investor confidence, allows contractors to plan more effectively, and supports smoother execution of government projects. In a developing economy like Nigeria, where public expenditure plays a major role in economic activity, budget stability remains important to growth and development.
At the same time, the Senate has continued to discharge its constitutional oversight responsibilities through investigative hearings, committee reviews, and ministerial screenings. During periods of persistent fuel scarcity, the Senate leadership engaged key stakeholders in the petroleum sector, including an oversight visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Supporters contend that the intervention helped keep national attention focused on domestic refining capacity and crude supply arrangements. Subsequent Federal Government measures, including support for naira-denominated crude transactions, were widely viewed as part of a broader effort to ease supply constraints and calm the downstream market. Today, the long fuel queues that once defined daily life have receded considerably, although deeper challenges in the energy sector remain.
On the international stage, the Senate under Akpabio has strengthened parliamentary diplomacy, carrying Nigeria’s voice into global conversations on democracy, development, security, and international cooperation. Nigeria has assumed a more visible role within the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), contributing to debates on democratic governance, collective security, climate resilience, and legislative best practices. Through these engagements, the Senate has sought not only to advance Nigeria’s interests but also to position the country as a constructive participant in addressing shared global challenges.
A notable diplomatic milestone was Nigeria’s election into the IPU Executive Committee for the first time in decades, a development widely interpreted as recognition of the country’s renewed parliamentary engagement within international legislative circles. Akpabio was also designated to serve on the Preparatory Committee for the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in 2024.
Domestically, one of the Senate’s most consequential constitutional moments came in August 2023 during the crisis in the Niger Republic following the military coup. When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, acting as Chairman of ECOWAS, sought legislative backing for possible regional intervention, the Senate urged restraint and prioritized diplomatic engagement over immediate military action. Widely viewed as a demonstration of legislative independence and respect for the principle of separation of powers, the decision reaffirmed the Senate’s constitutional role in matters of security and foreign policy while underscoring a preference for dialogue, diplomacy, and regional stability at a moment of heightened tension across West Africa.
No balanced assessment of the 10th Senate can entirely overlook concerns raised by critics and observers. Questions have occasionally been raised regarding the depth of scrutiny applied during the confirmation of some executive nominees, while certain oversight investigations produced outcomes that critics considered less robust than expected.
In broader terms, the 10th Senate has combined increased legislative activity with relative political stability while attempting to align its priorities with Nigeria’s economic and governance realities. Supporters point to the passage of the National Minimum Wage Amendment Act, the Investments and Securities Act, and multiple regional development commission bills as examples of substantive legislation with potentially long-term national impact.
With one legislative year remaining before the next election cycle begins to dominate political discourse, the principal test facing the 10th Senate may ultimately be one of implementation and public confidence. If the tax reforms strengthen revenue generation, if the student loan programme continues to expand educational access without major controversy, and if the Senate further enhances oversight transparency, the chamber may secure a more enduring institutional legacy. Conversely, if concerns about public perception and executive accommodation persist, critics may continue to question whether legislative productivity has translated into sufficient institutional independence. It is worth noting, however, that history suggests the most successful periods of national development have often occurred not during eras of executive-legislative confrontation, but when both arms of government cooperated effectively while remaining faithful to their distinct constitutional responsibilities.
If the reforms advanced by the Senate continue to produce measurable national impact, and if the institution successfully addresses concerns relating to oversight and accountability, history may ultimately remember the 10th Senate not merely as a productive legislature, but as one that contributed to stabilising governance and repositioning democratic institutions during a consequential period in Nigeria’s development.

Rt Hon Eseme Eyiboh mnipr is a former member and Spokesperson in the House of Representatives and currently, the Special Adviser on Media/ Publicity and Official Spokesperson to the President of the 10th Senate

On this day, thirty-three years ago, the Nigerian people, across the north and south divides, came out in their numbers and spoke loudly with their votes, against poverty in the midst of plenty; against lack of social justice; against poor public governance; against nepotism; against oppressive regimes, and against governance without human face.

Enthusiastic electorate trooped out in large numbers in Kano, Benue, Yobe, Gombe, Oyo, Lagos, Cross River, Plateau, Borno, Bauchi, and other states, and in countless number of communities across the federation, and voted for Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), whom they related with as being the bearer of true hope for a better Nigeria.

Significantly, voters in Kano and its constituencies, preferred MKO Abiola over Alhaji Bashir Tofa, their own son, who was the candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC), as the SDP won in the state. The pan-Nigerian outlook the electoral outcome of that election showed the overwhelming popularity of Abiola and how acceptable his party, the SDP was across the country.

It is important to note that the national appeal of old, which the party had, remains the same today, three decades after.

Unfortunately, the June 12 1993 presidential election, which was adjudged the most freest, fairest, peaceful and credible election in the political history of Nigeria, was annulled, and its prospects and gains of better life for Nigerians and national integration were aborted.

The ill-advised action of the military junta in annuling the election, in which a winner had emerged, was met with unparalleled national outrage and civil resistance, which evolved in a marked period of political instability, during which Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the election, was incarcerated and died while being held.

Not a few citizens were felled by the bullets of the military during the national resistance against the annulment, while a number of front-line pro-democracy and thousands of activists who championed the national civil actions were bruatlized and some of them hounded to exile.

It is commendable that the late President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in 2018, stood on the side of history and true national interest, by declaring June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, thereby, replacing May 29, which hitherto, was celebrated as the day. The National Assembly, in 2019, also acted by institutionalizing the date, through necessary amendments to our Public Holiday Laws, making it a public holiday, and as the official Democracy Day.

Three decades after, the hope and promises that MKO Abiola’s presidency would have delivered to Nigeria, are yet to be enjoyed by the people, as successive governments have failed to prioritise the true interests of the people and the country.

The mass of the Nigerian people, sadly, still contend, today, with dehumanising poverty and rising costs of living, unemployment, poor governance outcomes, rising corruption, poor public accountability, worsening national and human security, national despair, dwindling public trust in government and failing public institutions, and supressed civil liberties.

The foregoing was what June 12 symbolised, and the presidency of MKO Abiola, and an SDP government would have delivered for the good of Nigerian people and would have laid a solid foundation upon which successive administrations after him would be building upon.

It is regrettable that Nigeria lost the opportunity of having MKO Abiola delivered on his mission, but the SDP vison for a greater Nigeria endures.

Notwithstanding the failures of past administrations, and the harrowing experiences of Nigerians under the present civil regime, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), on this momentous occasion of the anniversary of June 12, which occupies a unique place in the history of our democratic journey as a nation, assures Nigerians that the date, as a defining juncture, remains an enduring inspiration for democratic consolidation.

The Party assures that a truly refreshing hope is in the horizon – not that of the renewed hopelessness that currently pervades the landscape under the watch of the task masters and unclean sweepers.

Today, as we celebrate June 12, a date which will continue to have an enduring significance in our democratic history, the SDP, under the leadership of Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe as National Chairman and Prince Adewole Adebayo as the Presidential Candidate for 2027 general elections offers the most credible alternative platform for national redemption.

The party is well-primed and poised to re-enact the June 12, 1993 electoral outcome. It is strongly committed to strengthening our public institutions; killing corruption; implementing Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution; engendering and entrenching the Nigerian Dream, and making life truly meaningful for all Nigerians, and making our nation safe for all.

While recognising that the times are hard for Nigerians, and that people are yet to get the desired fruits of their democratic labours, the SDP celebrates the unforgettable sacrifices of the late Chief MKO Abiola, GCFR, his wife Alhaja Kudirat, and all the heroes, heroines and matryrs of democracy, who paid the supreme price for the freedom we enjoy today.

The party enjoins Nigerians to always call to mind the sublime popular quotation that *eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.*

Nigerian citizens need to be mindful that a democracy that is not watched, hardens and slides to despotism in no time; that complacency is the key enemy of people’s freedom, and that democratic freedom is not a permanent state of being, and for them to keep their rights, they need to constantly pay attention to what matters, and always work to protect and defend democracy with their active participation, and guard against those who abuse their mandates.

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the SDP salutes the courage of all Nigerian compatriots and democracy activists who are currently championing relentlessly, the promotion of the true interests of the nation.

The SDP promises to continue to stand with the people. The party will offer the Nigerian elecorate the most credible candidates for all elective positions.

We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act as being truly independent and work for democracy and not the interest of a few. That is the only way the Commission can earn the trust of Nigerians.

All relevant institutions and stakeholders associated with our electoral processes need to prioritise the true interest of Nigeria for the good of all.

2027 is a critical juncture for democratic consolidation. We must join hands to make democracy work and build a Nigeria that we can all be proud of.

Happy Democracy Day to all Nigerians.

By Araba Rufus Aiyenigba,National Publicity Secretary, SDP

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day address as “another campaign speech masquerading as a presidential address,” arguing that after three years of the Tinubu administration and eleven years of APC rule, Nigerians deserve results rather than fresh promises. The party said the President’s repeated assurances on economic recovery, security and job creation amounted to an admission that the APC had failed to deliver on the very promises that brought it to power in 2015. According to the ADC, a government that is still asking for patience after more than a decade in power cannot continue to blame the past for Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, cost-of-living crisis and unemployment challenges. The opposition party insisted that Democracy Day should have been an opportunity for the President to showcase how his government has benefited the people, not another campaign promises.
The ADC also criticised the National Assembly for proceeding on recess on such a historically momentous day that should have provided opportunity for the representatives of the people to evaluate our democratic journey.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has carefully reviewed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Democracy Day address to the nation. While we join Nigerians in commemorating the sacrifices of the heroes of June 12 and celebrating twenty-seven years of uninterrupted democratic rule, we find it quite unfortunate that rather than use the occasion to demonstrate how this democracy under his watch has delivered real benefits to citizens, the President chose to speak like a candidate contesting for election rather than a leader who has been in the saddle for more than three years.
President Tinubu’s address was long on promises and short on answers. What Nigerians heard today was not the speech of a government entering its fourth year in office. It was the speech of a candidate seeking another mandate. Throughout the address, the President asked Nigerians to believe once again that prosperity is just around the corner, that economic reforms will soon bear fruit, that jobs are coming, that security is improving,

The question Nigerians should be asking is simple: after three years of President Tinubu and eleven years of APC rule, why are we still talking about promises?

The APC came to power in 2015 promising to tackle insecurity, revive the economy, create jobs, reduce poverty, strengthen institutions, and improve the quality of life of Nigerians. Eleven years later, these same issues continue to dominate the government’s speeches. The fact that the President is still making many of the same promises that brought the APC to power is itself an admission that those promises remain unfulfilled.

Most striking was the President’s attempt to present his administration as though it has only recently arrived in office. President Tinubu has been in power for three years. The APC has governed Nigeria for more than a decade. At this stage, Nigerians are not interested in projections. They are interested in outcomes. They are not looking for assurances. They are looking for evidence.

The President spoke extensively about economic reforms. Yet he failed to adequately address the reality that millions of Nigerians are experiencing one of the most severe cost-of-living crises in recent memory. Food prices remain painfully high.

Transportation costs have soared. Small businesses continue to struggle under rising operating expenses. Families across the country are making painful sacrifices simply to survive. Nigerians cannot be expected to celebrate economic theories while enduring economic hardship.
Democracy Day should have been an opportunity for the President to account for eleven years of APC stewardship. It should have been an opportunity to explain why, under him, the lives of Nigerians have been rendered worthless, why millions of Nigerians are struggling with the cost of living, why unemployment and underemployment remain widespread, and why public confidence in government continues to decline. Instead, Nigerians were presented with another catalogue of future intentions.

The ADC believes that a government that is still making promises after eleven years in power is effectively admitting that it has not delivered. A government that continues to ask for patience after three years in office is acknowledging that the promised results have not materialised. Nigerians deserve more than speeches about what may happen tomorrow. They deserve answers about what has happened over the last eleven years.

President Tinubu’s Democracy Day address confirms what many Nigerians already know: this administration is increasingly focused on managing expectations rather than delivering outcomes. The government wants credit for promises and applause for intentions, while ordinary Nigerians continue to bear the consequences of its failures.
After eleven years of APC rule and three years of President Tinubu’s administration, Nigerians deserve answers. They deserve accountability. Above all, they deserve a government that delivers.
The ADC also condemns the decision of the National Assembly to proceed on holiday on a day that marks a great moment in our democratic journey. The legislature is the bastion of democracy anywhere. A moment like this is an opportunity for the elected representatives of the people to celebrate democracy by showcasing their commitment to hold the government to account on behalf of the people they represent. Unfortunately, when it matters most, the APC led National Assembly demonstrated, once again, a painful lack of historical awareness by shutting down the house of democracy on democracy day.