Read Our Laws Before Criticising Us, Akpabio Urges Nigerians

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has urged Nigerians to study laws passed by the National Assembly before criticising lawmakers, insisting that many public attacks on the legislature stem from a poor understanding of the legislative process.

Akpabio made the appeal on Tuesday while declaring open the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja. He said the annual initiative was created to promote transparency, strengthen accountability and provide citizens with an opportunity to engage directly with the work of the legislature.

Speaking on the theme, “Three Years of the 10th National Assembly: Advocacy, Transparency, Inclusion and Reforms,” the Senate President described the National Assembly as the most accessible democratic institution in the country.

He encouraged Nigerians to read legislative documents before forming opinions, stressing that lawmakers remain open to constructive criticism based on facts.

According to him, criticism without proper knowledge of the contents of legislation often leads to misinformation and unnecessary public outrage.

Akpabio recalled a recent television programme in which an academic criticised the newly passed tax reform laws but admitted he had not read any section of the legislation.

He said such situations highlight the need for citizens to examine laws before commenting on them, particularly on social media platforms.

The Senate President explained that lawmakers enact legislation with the long-term interests of Nigeria in mind, noting that their responsibility is to make laws that will serve future generations rather than short-term political interests.

He also described the 10th National Assembly as the most peaceful and productive parliament since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, attributing its achievements to the strong collaboration between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Akpabio acknowledged that disagreements occasionally occur between both chambers but said they are always resolved through dialogue and consensus in the national interest.

The Senate President also praised security agencies for the recent rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, describing the operation as evidence of the Federal Government’s determination to tackle insecurity across the country.

He further defended the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, saying the administration had reduced Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil revenue while improving monthly allocations to states, enabling them to finance projects and meet salary obligations more effectively.

Earlier, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, presented the Third-Year Legislative Scorecard of the House, revealing that lawmakers had received 2,747 bills within three years, passed 363 of them and secured presidential assent for 72.

Abbas described the performance as the highest legislative output since 1999 and announced that the House would withdraw its earlier state police bill to prioritise consideration of a more comprehensive executive bill recently transmitted by President Tinubu.

He assured Nigerians that the proposed legislation would undergo extensive public hearings and transparent scrutiny before its passage, stressing that adequate safeguards had been incorporated to prevent abuse and ensure accountability.