Challenge Us Where We Fail — Akpabio Throws NASS Doors Open To Nigerian

• Akpabio opens the National Assembly to unprecedented public engagement, urging Nigerians to scrutinise lawmakers and hold Parliament accountable for its actions.
• Senate President says democracy thrives when citizens actively participate, insisting Parliament belongs to the people, not elected officials.
•  Speaker Abbas says the Open Week initiative will strengthen transparency, deepen public trust and foster dialogue between lawmakers and citizens.
• Three-day event features high-level engagements with civil society, development partners and the private sector to promote inclusive governance and legislative.

Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday, threw the doors of the National Assembly open to Nigerians, urging citizens to actively scrutinise the legislature and challenge lawmakers wherever they fall short in delivering on their constitutional responsibilities.

Akpabio made the call while declaring open the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, describing the three-day initiative as a landmark effort to strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence in the 10th National Assembly by giving Nigerians direct access to the institution and its legislative processes.

The Senate President said the programme underscored the legislature’s commitment to openness and democratic governance, stressing that Parliament exists to serve the people and must remain accessible and responsive to their expectations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Akpabio said the National Assembly derives its legitimacy from the people and should never operate behind closed doors.

“We are assembled today for something far greater than either Chamber. Parliament belongs not to those elected to sit within it, but to the millions whose hopes and votes brought it into existence”, he said.

He maintained that democracy can only thrive when citizens are adequately informed, actively engaged and convinced that their voices are reflected in legislative decision-making.

“Parliament was never built to keep the people out. It was built to bring them in, for democracy flourishes only in the confidence of an informed and engaged citizenry”, he said.

According to him, the National Assembly Open Week offers Nigerians the opportunity to move beyond political headlines and gain a better understanding of Parliament as the institution where citizens’ aspirations are translated into laws, oversight and representation.

“This ‘Open Week’ invites Nigerians to look beyond the headlines and the sound bites to see Parliament as the meeting point between the aspirations of the people and the responsibilities of government”, he added.

Akpabio described openness as a democratic necessity rather than a ceremonial exercise, arguing that strong democracies are sustained by legislatures that encourage debate, reconcile competing interests and provide constitutional solutions to national challenges.

“History teaches us that great nations are sustained not merely by strong executives or independent judiciaries, but by parliaments where differing opinions are heard, competing interests are reconciled, and every citizen ultimately finds constitutional expression”, he said.

The Senate President further explained that transparency goes beyond opening legislative proceedings to public observation, insisting that every Nigerian, regardless of social status or geographical location, deserves meaningful representation.

“Openness means more than allowing citizens to observe proceedings. It means assuring every Nigerian that no community is too remote, no voice too quiet, and no corner of this Republic too insignificant to deserve representation”, he stated.

He called on Nigerians to play a more active role in strengthening democracy by engaging constructively with lawmakers and demanding improved performance from the legislature.

“We invite Nigerians not merely to observe us, but to engage with us; applaud where they agree, and challenge us where they believe we can do better. A parliament that listens becomes wiser. A democracy that listens becomes stronger”, Akpabio declared.

Earlier, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said the National Assembly Open Week was founded on the belief that an open and responsive Parliament is critical to strengthening democratic institutions and rebuilding public confidence.

According to Abbas, the initiative would create opportunities for meaningful dialogue between legislators, citizens, civil society organisations, development partners and the private sector, while promoting transparency, accountability and inclusive governance.

He noted that sustained engagement between lawmakers and the public would help bridge the gap between Parliament and citizens, improve legislative responsiveness and encourage greater participation in the democratic process.

The three-day National Assembly Open Week will feature a series of high-level, people-centred engagements designed to deepen public understanding of legislative activities, promote collaboration between lawmakers and stakeholders, and reinforce the National Assembly’s commitment to transparency, accountability and citizen participation in governance.