Kenny Okolugbo, Media Consultant to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has highlighted what he described as unprecedented achievements in lawmaking, economic reforms, and governance under the leadership of his principal.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, Okolugbo said the 10th Senate, within two years, had passed more than 90 bills, with 52 of them already signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
He described the record as a testament to Akpabio’s “uncommon leadership style,” noting that the upper chamber has played a crucial role in stabilising the economy, improving fiscal policies, and promoting inclusive development across the country.
According to him, interventions by the Senate have contributed to strengthening the naira and reducing inflation, which currently stands at 20.12 per cent — a 4.23 per cent improvement in recent months.
“We are not yet there, but there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Okolugbo said.
He listed key legislations such as the Student Loan Act, which enables indigent students to access education loans repayable only after employment, and the Tax Reform Bill, which was initially resisted but later passed to expand the tax net and ease the burden on low-income earners.
Other notable achievements, he added, include the passage of the Minimum Wage Act, which doubled workers’ pay by 100 per cent and exempted those earning the minimum wage from personal income tax, as well as the establishment of five regional development commissions across the South-East, South-West, South-South, North-West, and North-Central zones.
“These commissions will bring governance and development closer to the people, addressing long-standing issues of regional imbalance,” he said.
Despite the Senate not yet receiving the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper from the Executive, Okolugbo said the upper chamber had taken proactive steps to extend the implementation of capital projects in the 2024 and 2025 budgets to prevent economic disruptions.
He disclosed that plans were underway to convene a National Security Summit to address the root causes of insecurity in the country, while the Electricity Act had been strengthened to prevent arbitrary tariff hikes.
“We cannot continue to pay higher bills for electricity we rarely get,” he noted.
Okolugbo maintained that the achievements of the 10th Senate show that legislative effectiveness is not measured by confrontation with the Executive but by constructive collaboration that delivers tangible results for Nigerians.
The media aide also praised Akpabio’s leadership style, describing him as “a man in a hurry to achieve results.”
He added, “Working with him gives me insight into why he was called the Uncommon Governor during his tenure in Akwa Ibom. His developmental strides then still speak for him today.”
Okolugbo also commended the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, for ensuring smooth legislative business whenever Akpabio is away, maintaining that there is no vacuum in the chamber’s operations.
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