The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic management, declaring that no state government in Nigeria is currently borrowing to pay workers’ salaries, a development he credited to the administration’s fiscal discipline and economic reforms.

Akpabio remarked on Tuesday in his welcome-back speech while addressing lawmakers during the resumption of plenary after a long recess.

Akpabio praised the President’s handling of the economy, stating: “I can confidently say that through the engineering of President Bola Tinubu and his team, no state government today is borrowing to pay salaries. So, for this, we say kudos to the administration.”

The Senate President praised what he described as the “sound economic engineering” of the Tinubu administration, noting that the fiscal reforms have strengthened revenue generation and restored investor confidence in key sectors of the economy.

He said the upper chamber would continue to support policies that improve the lives of Nigerians while maintaining its independence and oversight role over the executive arm.

He promised that the Senate would hold the executive accountable, saying: “The Senate will lend its strength to every policy that raises our people, but where policies imperil them, we shall not hesitate to speak on their behalf.”

Akpabio, however, reminded his colleagues that their return to plenary came at a time when citizens were grappling with insecurity, high cost of living, and hunger, stressing that Nigerians expected tangible results, not rhetoric.

He detailed the severity of the hunger crisis, stating: “Over 33 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity, a crisis demanding urgent legislative action on agriculture, irrigation, rural roads, and mechanisation. Hunger cannot be defeated with words; it requires policy, budget, and will,” he declared.

The Senate President further urged senators to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation, warning against the growing culture of political showmanship.

He cautioned his colleagues against prioritizing politics over governance, saying: “Leadership is not a carnival, and governance is not a stage for theatrics. Let no one mistake the nation’s destiny for a costume drama, nor confuse applause with achievement,” he cautioned.

Akpabio also called for stronger collaboration between the legislature and executive to tackle the nation’s challenges, including insecurity, power instability, and infrastructure decay. He emphasized the need to reform the Constitution, deepen democracy, and ensure that public funds are used for the people’s welfare, not private gain.

He defined the relationship the Senate would maintain with the executive, noting: “Our relations with the Executive shall remain frank and firm, neither obsequious nor obstructive.”

He concluded his charge by saying: “We must continue to uphold the independence of this Senate, the dignity of this chamber, and the majesty of the Constitution which governs us all.”

As the Senate resumes its legislative duties, Akpabio charged his colleagues to make the 10th Senate a symbol of integrity and transformation: “Let this Senate be remembered as an instrument of national transformation, a citadel of democracy, and a beacon of hope,” he said.