By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has urged lawmakers to rededicate themselves to national service as the 10th Senate commenced its fourth legislative year, saying the country’s pressing challenges require urgent parliamentary attention.

In his welcome address to senators following the chamber’s resumption from recess, Akpabio called on his colleagues to place national interest above personal convenience and remain committed to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

He said the return to the Senate was more than a constitutional routine, describing it as a renewed call to serve over 200 million Nigerians.

“Our recess was never an intermission from national service. Parliament may adjourn, but democracy never sleeps. We returned to our constituencies, listened to our people, participated in the democratic process and witnessed once again the resilience of the Nigerian spirit and the enduring faith of our people in democracy,” he said.

Akpabio recalled that lawmakers were summoned from recess to attend to urgent national matters, describing their response as a demonstration of patriotism.

“Great legislatures are not remembered because they met according to schedule; they are remembered because they rose above schedules whenever the nation demanded it. Patriotism chooses duty over personal convenience,” he added.

Reflecting on recent political activities across the country, Akpabio noted that while some politicians celebrated victories and others experienced disappointments during party primaries, the greater achievement was the sustenance of constitutional democracy.

“History teaches that nations rarely collapse because they hold elections, but because they refuse to respect them. Democracy endures when the nation is valued above victory and ambition bows to the Constitution,” he said.

The Senate President, however, expressed concern over the country’s security challenges, particularly the continued abduction of schoolchildren in Ondo State and other Nigerians still being held by terrorists.

He expressed confidence in the efforts of the Armed Forces, the Police and intelligence agencies to secure the release of the victims and pledged continued legislative support for initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

“Peace is the first infrastructure of development. Roads cannot flourish where fear governs the highways. Investors cannot build where kidnappers build camps. Farmers cannot feed a nation while fleeing their farms, and children cannot prepare for tomorrow when they are afraid to attend school today,” he said.

Akpabio stressed that every appropriation for security and every law aimed at protecting lives and property should be seen as an investment in Nigeria’s future.

He urged senators to legislate with wisdom, carry out effective oversight and enact laws that would stimulate economic growth, strengthen education and healthcare, create opportunities for young people and protect vulnerable citizens.

According to him, the National Assembly must remain a vigilant guardian of the public trust through oversight that is fearless, constructive and non-partisan.

He also called on lawmakers to embrace nation-building by engaging in healthy debates without personal attacks or questioning one another’s patriotism.

“Let us debate without diminishing one another and criticise policies without questioning patriotism. Democracy insists that though we may not always see eye to eye, we must always stand shoulder to shoulder. We are not merely making laws for today; we are shaping the destiny of generations yet unborn,” he said.