The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said the Senate is not merely a theatre of debate, but a workshop of solutions, while the social media magnifies noise of the moment.
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Also, he challenged Nigerians to engage their elected representatives, urging the people to come up with concerns to those whom they have entrusted with the responsibility of speaking for them.
Akpabio said these in his welcome address from the adjourned plenary for 2026 budget defence by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. He noted that it is through what he described as the instrument of representation that grievances are transformed into policy and concerns into action.
The speech is titled “Faith, Duty and the voice of the People.”
He said, “I therefore encourage Nigerians everywhere: engage your representatives. Bring your concerns to those whom you have entrusted with the responsibility of speaking for you. For it is through the instrument of representation that grievances are transformed into policy and concerns into action.
“The Senate is not merely a theatre of debate; it is a workshop of solutions. Where social media magnifies the noise of the moment, the Senate addresses the substance of the problem. Where the digital arena stirs emotion, the legislative process pursues resolution.
‘Social media speaks to the moment; representation speaks to the future.”
Akpabio has also raised the alarm that Nigeria stands today at a moment that calls for clarity of purpose and steadfastness of spirit, saying that challenges before them as lawmakers are real.
He said, “Distinguished colleagues, Nigeria stands today at a moment that calls for clarity of purpose and steadfastness of spirit.
“The challenges before us are real. But history teaches us that great nations are not built by those who shrink from difficulty; they are built by those who confront it with courage and determination.
“We must therefore ensure that public resources are deployed in ways that promote development, strengthen institutions, expand opportunity, and uplift the lives of our citizens.”
According to him, “history teaches everyone that great nations are not built by those who shrink from difficulty; they are built by those who confront it with courage and determination, urging his colleagues to ensure that public resources are deployed in ways that promote development, strengthen institutions, expand opportunity, and uplift the lives of our citizens,”
Speaking about the death of one of their colleagues, Senator Barinada Mpigi who represented Rivers South-East, Akpabio wanred that they should be reminded once again of the fragility of life and the enduring value of service to one’s people.
Akpabio’s full speech read, “We assemble once again in this Senate after our brief adjournment, which enabled our committees to carry out important legislative work. Yet we do so with the full knowledge that while legislatures may adjourn, the life of a nation never pauses.
“The march of events does not wait for parliamentary calendars. The hopes of our people do not sleep. The burdens of governance do not take leave.
“Across our land, from the great cities to the smallest villages, the Nigerian people have continued their daily struggle — to build, to labour, to hope, and to endure. It is therefore fitting that we return not merely to our seats, but to our solemn duty as custodians of the people’s trust and stewards of their welfare.
“Distinguished colleagues, Before we proceed further with our deliberations, let us pause to acknowledge with deep sadness the recent passing of our distinguished colleague, Senator Barinada Mpigi, who represented the good people of Rivers South-East Senatorial District. His passing has left a painful void in this chamber and in the hearts of those who knew him.
“Senator Mpigi was a patriot whose years of service in the National Assembly were marked by dedication to the welfare of his constituents and loyalty to the ideals of democratic governance. He was a man of calm strength, cooperative spirit, and unwavering commitment to the legislative process. In mourning his departure, we are reminded once again of the fragility of life and the enduring value of service to one’s people.
“On behalf of the Senate, I extend heartfelt condolences to his beloved family, to the government and people of Rivers State, and especially to the people of Rivers South-East Senatorial District whom he served with diligence and pride. May Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest and grant his family and constituents the strength to bear this irreparable loss.
“Distinguished colleagues, during the period of our adjournment, millions of our compatriots have been observing the sacred month of Ramadan, a holy season which continues to unfold across the Muslim world. Ramadan is not merely a period of fasting; it is a profound exercise in discipline, self-denial, reflection, and submission to the will of Almighty Allah. It reminds humanity that restraint is strength, that sacrifice refines the spirit, and that devotion to God must find expression in compassion for fellow citizens.
“On behalf of this Senate, I commend the Muslim faithful across our country for the devotion with which they continue to observe this sacred season. The lessons of Ramadan are not confined to the mosque alone. Patience, humility, charity, and obedience to God are virtues that our nation desperately needs in public life and private conduct alike. A people disciplined in spirit will always build a nation strong in character.
“At the same time, our Christian compatriots are also passing through the sacred season of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, repentance, and spiritual preparation before Easter. A time to reflect upon the suffering, sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“Easter stands in the history of faith as a powerful proclamation that suffering is not the end of the story, and that sacrifice, when guided by righteousness, ultimately gives birth to redemption. In the same spirit, the teachings of Christ call upon humanity to walk in humility, to love one’s neighbour, to defend the cause of justice, and to extend mercy even where bitterness might seem easier.
“Thus, in these two sacred seasons — Ramadan and Lent — we glimpse a profound moral harmony: discipline before God and compassion toward one another. If these virtues were to guide our conduct as citizens and leaders alike, Nigeria would stand upon foundations stronger than any fortress of stone — a nation anchored on faith, guided by justice, and united by love for our country.
Distinguished Senators, the task of representation lies at the very heart of the democratic enterprise. Representation is not an abstraction written only in constitutional language. It is a living covenant between the people and those whom they elect to speak in their name.
“In this age of instantaneous communication, social media has expanded with astonishing speed. It has given voice to millions, and in doing so has enriched the conversation of democracy. Yet we must remind ourselves and our fellow citizens that while social media may raise an alarm, it is the institutions of democracy that must provide the remedy.
“The Senate is not merely a theatre of debate; it is a workshop of solutions. Where social media magnifies the noise of the moment, the Senate addresses the substance of the problem. Where the digital arena stirs emotion, the legislative process pursues resolution. Social media speaks to the moment; representation speaks to the future.
‘Let our people remember that democracy is not only a government of the people, by the people, and for the people; it is the voice of the people — spoken by the people and raised for the people.
“I therefore encourage Nigerians everywhere: engage your representatives. Bring your concerns to those whom you have entrusted with the responsibility of speaking for you. For it is through the instrument of representation that grievances are transformed into policy and concerns into action.
“Distinguished colleagues, among the pressing matters before this chamber stands the national budget — that great ledger of national purpose in which the hopes of millions are translated into the language of public policy. A budget is more than figures upon paper. It is a declaration of national intention. It tells our citizens where we choose to invest our energies, what priorities we pursue, and what future we seek to build.
“It is my earnest hope that every diligence has been exercised by our vigilant and patriotic sectoral committees to ensure that the budget reflects, as faithfully as possible, the aspirations and yearnings of the Nigerian people — the farmer who tills the soil, the trader who labours in the marketplace, the student who studies by lamplight, and the worker whose daily effort sustains the engines of our economy.
“Distinguished colleagues, Nigeria stands today at a moment that calls for clarity of purpose and steadfastness of spirit. The challenges before us are real. But history teaches us that great nations are not built by those who shrink from difficulty; they are built by those who confront it with courage and determination.
“We must therefore ensure that public resources are deployed in ways that promote development, strengthen institutions, expand opportunity, and uplift the lives of our citizens.
“Let us therefore continue to conduct our work with dignity, with seriousness of purpose, and with a patriotic devotion worthy of the trust placed in us by the Nigerian people. Let us debate with vigour but act with wisdom. Let us differ in opinion but remain united in our duty to the Republic. For above all our political differences stands a higher obligation — the obligation to serve Nigeria faithfully and to secure for our people a future worthy of their sacrifice and hope.
“Therefore, as we resume our today, may the spirit of Ramadan inspire our character and strengthen our resolve, may the spirit of Lent illuminate our conscience and guide our actions, and may the Almighty guide our deliberations as we labour together for the peace, unity, and prosperity of our beloved country.”
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