Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called for immediate and rapid action to tackle Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions and rising insecurity.
The resumption is coming at a critical moment as Nigerians continue to grapple with the effects of economic reforms and security challenges, with many looking to the Senate for leadership and solutions.
Akpabio delivered a passionate welcome address to mark the end of the Senate’s two-month recess emphasizing the Senate’s responsibility in navigating the country through the difficult times.
Akpabio acknowledged the growing hardship faced by Nigerians due to inflation, high living costs, and increasing security threats, particularly in different regions of the country.
“The economic pressures are testing the very fabric of our society. We are deeply empathetic to the struggles our people are facing,” he said.
The Senate President stressed that it was the duty of lawmakers to respond with compassion and urgency.
While commending President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its strides in agriculture and infrastructure, Akpabio noted that the gains must not overshadow the immediate need to restore security and alleviate the economic burden on citizens.
“The recent surge in insecurity is a clarion call for us to double our efforts to protect our communities,” he stated.
He pledged the Senate’s support in terms of legislative measures that would provide long-term solutions.
Akpabio also called for stronger collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government, noting that working together would ensure that the benefits of good governance reach all Nigerians.
He urged lawmakers to prioritize the concerns of their constituents, stressing that the Senate was the “first glimmer of hope for the common man.”
Akpabio encouraged lawmakers to maintain their commitment to transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of policies aimed at fostering economic stability and enhancing national security.
Finally, he called on his colleagues to approach the new legislative session with renewed vigor and purpose, stating that their work would lay the foundation for a more prosperous and secure Nigeria.
Also, Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu also urged President Tinubu to quickly intervene as the economic hardship in the country has reached a critical stage
Kalu who represents Abia North stated this on Tuesday while fielding questions from news correspondents Of the Senate indicated that the economic suffering in the country has hit all Nigerians regardless of social status including himself, forcing them to take painful austerity measures in order to cope with the challenges.
Orji Kalu who has just returned from a long vacation to join his colleagues to resume back to the Senate noted that urgent measures are needed to ease the pains of Nigerians.
Kalu narrated what he is currently experiencing;
“Hardship is true, people are suffering. We have hundreds of thousands of workers, we have about 10,000 workers in our group that we run.
“We need to pay those salaries. If I fly at any time, buying fuel and maintaining the private plane takes almost $10,000, $20,000.
“Even in my village, everywhere I go, companies, everybody, there is hardship, but I appeal to the federal government, the President to know how he can bring succor quickly to the people of Nigeria.
“He has to do something not yesterday, but today. He must do something like yesterday because the condition of the Nigerian people is not too good. I believe that no president in the world elected by people would want his people to suffer.
“I called our senior members in the group and said when I have to make my sacrifices it is not for the federal government, it is for the good of the company.
“So I said fly no more, fly commercial and saved the money for restructuring our workers both in Nigeria and West Africa so that everybody must feed in this time of hardship.
Kalu however commended some of the Policy measures undertaken by Tinubu to tackle the challenges.
He said:
“We feel that the reformation going on now has not happened in the last 60 years, no president dared to do what President Tinubu is doing now. It is about courage. The man is very courageous. Possibly if I’m president what he is doing now to reform the economy, I won’t do it, I might come slowly.
”I’m not in the economic team, I have not seen the President or anyone to ask but this is what (return of subsidy) the president has to sit with his economic team to discuss, but the decisions he has taken is what no president in the 60 years of the republic, no president has been able to take that decision.
On last Saturday’s Edo State Gubernatorial election which the candidate of his Party All Progressives Congress emerged victorious the former Chief Whip said; “The national chairman, the national secretary, and members of the NWC, and including the senators, have worked so hard for Edo and I believe that whoever works hard for the election deserves to win.
“The election is about numbers, when you have the numbers on the ground, you win. When you don’t have the numbers, you don’t win. INEC has declared the winner and they (Okpebholo) deserve the win, because it is the most organized party, in terms of togetherness, there is no political party.”
Providing answers to the wild news which suggested that he died during his long vacation outside the country, Kalu debunked the rumors’ saying;
“Listen, there was nothing wrong with me. I took permission from the senate president about seven days before the senate closed, I went for a little study in one of the universities that I paid for myself not that anyone paid for me. I went to do some courses for two months so I used the holiday period to do courses on democracy and the economy.
“I did not die. I didn’t go for any medical check-up, but if people say I have died, we give thanks to God.”