Akpabio’s senate celebrates milestones, passes 90 bills

The administration of Senate President Godswill Akpabio has been credited with spearheading a wave of legislative activity and reform initiatives that have, according to his media adviser, transformed the National Assembly into a catalyst for economic stability and national development.

Kenny Okolugbo, Media Consultant to the Senate President, outlined these accomplishments in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday. He stated that the 10th Senate, in just two years, had deliberated and passed over 90 bills, with 52 already assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

Describing this record as “unmatched in recent democratic history,” Okolugbo attributed the Senate’s success to what he termed Akpabio’s “distinctive and result-oriented leadership approach.”

He said the legislature had played a central role in recalibrating fiscal policy, bolstering investor confidence, and promoting inclusive governance through well-considered legislative measures.

Among the Senate’s notable contributions, Okolugbo highlighted its interventions in stabilising the naira and tackling inflation, which has reportedly dropped to 20.12 per cent—reflecting a 4.23 per cent decrease over recent months.

“Progress is being made. We may not have arrived, but the signs are promising,” he stated.

Key Legislative Highlights

He cited the Student Loan Act as a landmark piece of legislation, providing access to interest-free education loans for underprivileged students—repayable only upon securing employment.

Another major milestone was the passage of the Tax Reform Bill, initially met with resistance but eventually passed to broaden the tax base while offering relief to low-income earners.

The Senate also passed the Minimum Wage Act, which doubled the existing wage rate and exempted minimum wage earners from personal income tax—a move widely praised by labour unions.

To address the issue of uneven development, Okolugbo said the Senate had enacted legislation establishing five Regional Development Commissions across the South-East, South-West, South-South, North-West, and North-Central zones.

“These commissions aim to decentralise development, ensuring that every region benefits from targeted infrastructure and social investment,” he added.

Forward Planning and Institutional Stability

Despite delays from the Executive in submitting the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, the Senate, he noted, had proactively extended the implementation timelines for capital projects in the 2024 and 2025 budgets to avoid halting critical development efforts.

Looking ahead, he revealed that preparations are in motion for a National Security Summit to confront the underlying causes of insecurity nationwide. Meanwhile, revisions to the Electricity Act have been introduced to curtail arbitrary tariff increases and enhance regulatory accountability.

“We cannot continue paying exorbitant rates for electricity we seldom receive,” he remarked.

Okolugbo underscored that the Senate’s effectiveness should not be gauged by its confrontations with the Executive, but by its ability to collaborate and produce outcomes that improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

He further praised Senate President Akpabio’s pace and ambition, calling him “a man determined to deliver results swiftly.”

“His track record as Governor of Akwa Ibom still stands tall. That same drive is evident in his leadership of the Senate,” Okolugbo said.

He also commended Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin for ensuring legislative continuity in Akpabio’s absence, stating that the Senate’s operations have remained seamless and efficient under his coordination.