As the Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio turns three, lawmakers count wins in legislation, but face knocks over weak checks on the executive and frequent floor clashes, writes SAMSON ELIJAH
As the Senate marks its third anniversary on 13 June 2026, the performance of the 10th National Assembly under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio continues to attract mixed reactions from stakeholders, civil society organisations, political analysts and citizens.
When Senator Akpabio assumed office on 13 June 2023, he pledged that the upper chamber of the National Assembly would prioritise the welfare of Nigerians in all its decisions.
“To the Nigerian people, I say this: your dreams, your aspirations, and your well-being will be at the heart of everything we will do in this Senate. I urge you to remain hopeful, steadfast, and united,” Akpabio declared in his inaugural address.
Three years later, the Senate’s record presents a complex picture of legislative achievements, controversial reforms, unresolved investigations, constitutional amendments, political defections, and growing concerns about its oversight role and independence from the executive branch.
Without a clearly defined performance framework, Nigerians are left to assess the Senate’s impact through its legislative output, oversight activities, responses to national challenges, and its ability to represent citizens’ interests amid worsening economic conditions.
Senate Composition
The Nigerian Constitution assigns lawmakers key responsibilities, including lawmaking through bills and motions, oversight of government agencies and institutions, screening and confirmation of presidential appointments, treaty ratification, and consideration of petitions from individuals and organisations.
The Senate comprises 109 members, with three senators elected from each of Nigeria’s 36 states and one representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Conflicting Statistics Raise Questions Over Legislative Productivity
Conflicting figures released by Senate leadership have created uncertainty regarding the exact legislative output of the 10th Senate.
While presenting the Senate’s scorecard recently, Senate President Akpabio stated that 96 out of 844 bills introduced in the chamber had been passed.
However, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, speaking at another event, disclosed that 108 out of 983 bills had been passed. The figures include both executive-sponsored and privately sponsored bills.
Bills Passed: Quantity Versus Relevance
Among major legislations passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu are the Appropriation Acts, National Anthem Act, Increase in Judicial Officers’ Salaries Act, Cybercrime Act, Death Penalty for Drug Traffickers Act, Extension of Retirement Age of National Assembly Staff Act, Student Loan Act, National Social Investment Programmes Act, Minimum Wage Amendment Act, Investments and Securities Act, Regional Development Commission Acts, and the Tax Reform Bills.
However, analysts continue to debate whether the laws have translated into meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Era Of Multiple Budgets
One of the most significant developments during the 10th Senate’s lifespan has been the unprecedented implementation of overlapping budgets.
In 2024, Nigeria simultaneously operated three budgets: the N21.8 trillion 2023 budget, the N2.17 trillion 2023 supplementary budget, and the N28.7 trillion 2024 budget.
Although the 9th National Assembly approved the first two budgets, President Tinubu extended the capital components of the first two budgets first to June and later to December 2024, despite the commencement of the 2024 budget cycle.
The trend continued into 2025, with the capital component of the 2024 budget extended twice, resulting in the simultaneous implementation of both the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
The presidency and National Assembly defended the extensions as necessary to ensure completion of ongoing projects.
Controversial Bills Generate Public Debate
Several laws passed by the Senate generated widespread public debate.
The National Anthem Act attracted criticism over the speed of its passage and questions regarding its relevance amid economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and inflation.
The Judicial Salaries Act, which increased judicial officers’ salaries by 300 per cent, equally divided public opinion between those who viewed it as a tool to strengthen judicial integrity and those who argued that corruption stems from greed rather than low remuneration.
Similarly, amendments to the Cybercrime Act raised concerns about provisions on electronic transaction levies and the controversial Section 24, which critics argue has been used to suppress journalists, activists, and government critics.
The Student Loan Act was largely welcomed for expanding access to higher education through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). However, some observers expressed concerns about implementation challenges and funding sustainability.
The Minimum Wage Amendment Act, which raised the national minimum wage to N70,000 monthly, also sparked debate, with critics arguing that the amount remains insufficient given rising inflation and living costs.
The Tax Reform Bills passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Tinubu have, however, been widely regarded as among the Senate’s most significant legislative achievements, introducing tax reliefs for low-income earners and small businesses while streamlining Nigeria’s tax administration system.
Oversight Failures And Unresolved Probes
Beyond lawmaking, critics argue that the Senate has performed at its weakest in oversight.
Several high-profile investigations launched by the Senate remain inconclusive years after their establishment.
Among them are probes into alleged corruption in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the controversial N30 trillion Ways and Means loan obtained under the Buhari administration, the alleged payment of $496 million to contractors linked to the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company, abandoned federal projects, adulterated fuel importation by NNPCL, and allegations involving drug-related activities linked to a serving senator.
Most of the committees established to investigate these matters have yet to submit reports despite deadlines set by the Senate.
Rivers Emergency Rule and Defections
The Senate also faced criticism for approving an emergency rule in Rivers State by voice vote rather than a recorded vote.
The decision generated controversy among legal experts and civil society organisations who questioned the transparency of the procedure.
Meanwhile, the chamber witnessed significant political realignments through defections, court judgments, deaths, ministerial appointments and governorship victories.
The ruling APC has expanded its dominance in the Senate from 59 seats at the inauguration to 87, significantly weakening opposition representation.
More Than 20 Senators Lose Return Tickets
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, more than 20 serving senators failed to secure return tickets during the recently concluded APC primaries.
Among those affected were lawmakers who defected from opposition parties and sought APC nominations but were disqualified under provisions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Act, 2026.
Others lost in direct primaries to former governors, political heavyweights and emerging contenders.
However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Ali Ndume, Ahmad Lawan, Orji Kalu and several others secured return tickets.
Electoral Reforms And Constitutional Review
One of the most contentious issues before the Senate has been the amendment of the Electoral Act.
After initially rejecting mandatory electronic transmission of election results, the Senate later amended the legislation to allow electronic transmission while retaining Form EC8A as an alternative in the event of network failure.
The decision generated widespread public criticism and protests by civil society groups demanding stronger guarantees for transparent elections.
The Senate subsequently reconstituted a harmonisation committee to reconcile differences between its version of the amendment and that passed by the House of Representatives.
Suspensions And Internal Controversies
The Senate suspended two opposition lawmakers during the period under review.
Senator Abdul Ningi was suspended after alleging that the 2024 budget was padded by N3.7 trillion, while Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended over alleged misconduct during plenary. Akpoti-Uduaghan later challenged her suspension in court and secured a judgment declaring the six-month suspension excessive and unconstitutional. The matter remains the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.
Civil Society Groups Fault Senate’s Independence
As part of stakeholder assessments, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, acknowledged the legislative milestones recorded by the Senate but expressed concern about what he described as weak oversight and declining legislative independence.
According to Rafsanjani, while the Senate has achieved results through budget approvals, governance reforms, and the confirmation of public appointments, legislative productivity alone cannot serve as a measure of performance.
He argued that widespread poverty, insecurity, unemployment, inflation and governance deficits require a more proactive legislature capable of providing effective checks and balances on executive actions.
“A major concern is the growing public perception that the Senate has not exercised sufficient independence in its relationship with the executive arm of government,” Rafsanjani said.
He further criticised what he described as weak scrutiny of government spending, public borrowing and policy implementation, urging lawmakers to strengthen accountability mechanisms and public trust.
Stakeholders Demand Greater Accountability
Political scientist and lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Dr Christian Okeke, also criticised the Senate, arguing that it failed to adequately address economic hardship, insecurity, and challenges in electoral reform.
Similarly, Executive Director of the Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI), Comrade Ofomhi Christopher, said the Senate has not fully met public expectations despite maintaining legislative activity and institutional stability.
According to Christopher, public concerns about the Senate’s independence, oversight capacity and responsiveness continue to shape perceptions of its overall performance.
Also, Executive Director of WIELD-I, comrade Amarachi Okeke, acknowledged the legislature’s contributions to lawmaking and policy discussions on critical national issues but stressed that legislative effectiveness should be measured by its impact on citizens’ lives.
According to Okeke, while the 10th National Assembly has demonstrated legislative productivity, concerns remain over whether its activities have translated into meaningful outcomes for Nigerians facing economic hardship, social inequality, and governance challenges.
“As an organisation committed to inclusive governance and democratic accountability, WIELD-I recognises that the 10th National Assembly has recorded some legislative achievements and contributed to policy debates on critical national issues,” she said.
Mixed Verdict At Midterm
As the 10th Senate enters its final year before the next general election cycle, its record remains a subject of debate.
While supporters point to major legislative reforms, tax restructuring, educational financing, and institutional stability as significant accomplishments, critics insist that weak oversight, unresolved investigations, perceived executive influence, and limited interventions in addressing economic hardship have diminished its impact.
Ultimately, the verdict on the 10th Senate may depend not only on the number of laws passed but on whether its actions have meaningfully improved governance, strengthened democratic accountability, and enhanced the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
