Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured the House of Representatives of the Senate’s commitment to swiftly attend to over 160 bills that originated from the lower chamber and are currently pending in the Senate.
Akpabio made this pledge on Tuesday while delivering a goodwill message at the “Open Week” of the House of Representatives, a forum aimed at fostering public engagement with the legislative arm of government.
His remarks came in response to recent concerns raised by the House over the Senate’s delay in considering House-passed bills.
Last week, in an unusual move, the House resolved to halt deliberations on Senate-originated bills, citing prolonged delays in the upper chamber’s treatment of legislation from the lower house.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, had expressed disappointment, revealing that at least 10 bills sponsored by him were among those left unattended in the Senate.
In what appeared to be a conciliatory gesture, Akpabio acknowledged the House’s grievances, stating that the message had been “received loud and clear.”
He noted that the Senate had already acted on six of the pending bills and assured that four more were scheduled for consideration that same Tuesday.
He further announced that the Senate would dedicate the next two weeks exclusively to clearing the backlog of House-originated bills.
“You are doing well. You have done very well,” Akpabio told the House. “We are fully committed to considering all your bills. We will spend the next two weeks doing just that, so that you can continue to bring more legislation in the interest of the Nigerian people. We take your bills seriously and do not joke with you.”
Beyond legislative collaboration, Akpabio used the occasion to highlight the importance of the “Open Week” initiative, praising the House for taking the lead and pledging that the Senate would follow suit.
According to him, the forum provides an important opportunity for citizens to interact with their elected representatives and to better understand the core responsibilities of lawmakers.
He clarified widespread misconceptions regarding the role of legislators, noting that lawmakers are primarily tasked with making laws, providing oversight, and representing their constituents—not constructing roads or offering employment.
He attributed some of the violence and misunderstanding seen during elections to the public’s lack of awareness about the true functions of legislators.
“Many Nigerians are unaware that it is not the responsibility of lawmakers to build roads or provide jobs,” Akpabio said. “Our core duties are lawmaking, oversight, and representation. The misunderstanding of these roles often contributes to the high casualty rate during elections.”
Akpabio also addressed issues of discipline and conduct among legislators, particularly as it relates to unauthorized travel. He criticized the growing trend of lawmakers traveling without prior notice or formal approval from the presiding officers, describing such actions as a breach of parliamentary rules.
“Many lawmakers travel at will without informing the presiding officers. This is not acceptable,” he said. “If a lawmaker leaves without notice, technically, they should be declared AWOL. Proper procedure requires that you inform the leadership formally before traveling. We need to know your whereabouts, especially in case of emergencies.”
Akpabio emphasized the importance of inter-chamber harmony and urged members of both the Senate and the House to work collaboratively for the benefit of the nation.