Senior members of the National Assembly on Tuesday held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, shortly after both chambers resumed plenary following a short recess.
Those present included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. Also seen arriving at the State House was Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The lawmakers arrived at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa at about 3:30 pm and left roughly 30 minutes later, around 4:00 pm. None of the officials addressed journalists after the meeting, and the agenda of the discussion had not been disclosed as of the time this report was filed.
Their visit came hours after the Senate and the House of Representatives reconvened at about 11:00 am on Tuesday. The earlier resumption date of February 24 had been shifted to allow legislative committees complete their budget defence sessions with ministries, departments, and agencies.
The meeting also took place about a week after President Tinubu hosted senators and members of the House of Representatives to separate Ramadan Iftar gatherings at the Presidential Villa. During the engagements, the president urged lawmakers to begin work on constitutional amendments that would allow the establishment of state police as part of efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
Speaking to senators during the February 25 Iftar dinner, Tinubu appealed to the lawmakers to consider ways of amending the constitution to incorporate state policing, which he said would help the country reclaim forests from criminal elements and improve safety across communities.
He repeated the same message when hosting members of the House of Representatives on February 27, advising them to ensure that any constitutional amendment creating state police also contains safeguards to prevent potential misuse by state governors.
Earlier, on February 23, the president had met with state governors during another Iftar gathering, where he reiterated his commitment to establishing state police, assuring them that the proposal would not be delayed.
Meanwhile, Senate President Akpabio, while addressing lawmakers during Tuesday’s plenary session, called on Nigerians to actively engage their elected representatives and hold them accountable on matters affecting their communities.
He described the Senate as more than a platform for debate, saying it should serve as a place where practical solutions to national challenges are developed through legislation and policy.
According to him, while social media often amplifies public emotions and reactions, the legislative process focuses on resolving issues through deliberate action and policy formulation.
Akpabio encouraged citizens to take advantage of democratic representation by bringing their concerns to lawmakers who were elected to speak and act on their behalf.
He also stressed that the responsibilities of governance continue even when legislative sessions are temporarily adjourned, noting that representation remains a central pillar of democratic governance.
The Senate President further highlighted the importance of the national budget currently before the National Assembly, describing it as a crucial policy document that reflects the country’s priorities and development goals.
According to him, a national budget goes beyond numbers, serving as a statement of the government’s intentions and a reflection of how resources will be directed toward the country’s future.
