Akpabio Says Trust Is Democracy’s Invisible Currency

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said trust is essential to sustaining democracy, stressing that citizens must feel heard, included and confident in their future.

Akpabio stated this on Tuesday while addressing the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania.

He said democracy should not be assessed solely by elections or economic statistics, but by the extent to which governance improves the daily lives of citizens.

According to him, inclusion, trust and opportunity form the foundation of a democracy that gives citizens a voice, communities a place and future generations a reason to hope.

He said trust could not be imposed through legislation but had to be earned through fairness, transparency and accountability.

“Every promise kept strengthens trust; every citizen heard brings government closer to the people,” he said.

The Senate President said the National Assembly had a responsibility to translate the aspirations of ordinary Nigerians into government decisions through legislation, representation, appropriation and oversight.

He also stressed the need for inclusive governance, saying Nigeria’s diversity in culture, language and faith should be regarded as a source of strength.

“No citizen should be a stranger in his own country, and no community should stand at the margins of our common future,” he said.

Akpabio said the administration of President Bola Tinubu, in collaboration with the 10th National Assembly, was implementing reforms aimed at expanding participation and economic opportunities.

He cited regional development institutions, tax reforms and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as measures designed to bring development closer to citizens, reduce economic pressure and expand access to higher education.

He said eligible students could access interest-free financing through the education loan scheme, stressing that poverty should not determine the future of young Nigerians.

Akpabio urged parliamentarians to build institutions that listen to citizens, governments that serve them and systems that maintain public confidence.

He called for inclusion to be transformed into participation, trust into partnership and opportunity into shared prosperity, saying every citizen and community should have a stake in Nigeria’s development.