Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has called on State Houses of Assembly to enhance their oversight functions to ensure government resources directly improve citizens’ livelihoods and promote job creation.
Akpabio made the remarks during the 2025 convocation ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in collaboration with the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Abuja on Monday.
He emphasised the importance of continuous investment by citizens in national development.
“We have no other country to call our own, and we must invest for the overall good of Nigeria.
”As members of the 10th Senate, we will continue to strengthen legal frameworks and enhance oversight of public institutions to ensure effective service delivery,” Akpabio said.
He highlighted that the 10th National Assembly’s oversight activities have contributed to increased revenue generation, which, in turn, has led to higher allocations to states.
The senate president urged state legislatures to ensure these increased resources translate into tangible improvements in citizen welfare.
Akpabio also addressed graduating students, encouraging them to apply the knowledge acquired to improve the quality of work and contribute to national development.
He praised NILDS for its consistent excellence in research, legislative support, and capacity building.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, noted that reforms under the Bola Tinubu administration were beginning to yield results.
He highlighted a decline in inflation to below 20 percent and the appreciating value of the naira, describing the economy as on a better growth trajectory.
Tajudeen reaffirmed the House’s commitment to budget reforms that strengthen planning, enactment, implementation, and oversight processes.
During the event, former INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega warned that countries transitioning from authoritarian rule to democracy, like Nigeria, require constant vigilance to prevent democratic regression.
He stressed the importance of enhancing electoral integrity through increased competence of election management bodies, accountability for electoral offenders, and the use of adaptable technology, alongside adequate funding for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Earlier, NILDS Director-General Professor Abubakar Sulaiman noted that the 2025 convocation celebrated the graduation of 19 Higher National Diploma, nine Post-Graduate Diploma, and 51 Master’s degree students from NILDS/UNIBEN postgraduate programs.
Sulaiman urged federal and state governments to increase funding for tertiary institutions to enhance skills development and address challenges such as recurrent ASUU strikes.
“Funding of higher institutions directly impacts human capacity development. Low funding translates to poorly trained graduates. Governments must act to ensure sustainable tertiary education,” he said.
