Nigeria’s 10th Senate highlights legislative output and oversight
An assessment of Nigeria’s 10th Senate points to laws on wages, student loans, electricity, taxation, security and regional development as evidence of its legislative reach. The chamber, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, has also pursued constitutional review and oversight amid questions about its methods.
Nigeria’s 10th Senate should be assessed by the laws and institutional changes it leaves behind rather than by the volume of speeches or motions on the floor, according to an analysis by Kabir Akintayo. The Senate was inaugurated in June 2023 under Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin. The analysis says its work has aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda while addressing issues affecting citizens.
Among the measures highlighted are the National Minimum Wage Amendment Act, which raised the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, and the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, which established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. The Senate has also amended the Electricity Act to enable greater state and private-sector participation. Other areas identified include social investment, regional development commissions, taxation, investment, insurance, data protection, capital markets and electoral reform.
The National Assembly’s legislative tracker recorded 1,033 Senate bills entering the process as of April 29. Of those, 453 were at second reading and 424 were before committees. The dashboard recorded 106 bills passed by April 23, while earlier Senate figures put the number passed by its second-year milestone at 113, with 55 receiving presidential assent.
Security has been another prominent area of oversight. The Senate established a panel led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to convene a national security summit and considered legislation on small arms, cybercrime and defence industries. Barau has chaired the Senate committee reviewing the 1999 Constitution, with discussions covering state policing, devolution and other structural reforms.
The chamber has also faced criticism and political tensions, including President Tinubu’s appeal for restraint in summoning ministers and agency heads.
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