PRESIDENT of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday in Abuja, declared open the National Assembly (NASS) Open Week.
Akpabio in his remarks at the opening said that the initiative was designed to deepen public trust by providing citizens and stakeholders with greater insight into the work of the 10th NASS.
He also described the initiative as a demonstration of the legislature’s commitment to transparency, accountability and stronger public engagement in Nigeria’s democratic process.
He said the event underscored the principle that parliament existed primarily to serve Nigerians and should remain accessible to the people whose mandate gave it legitimacy.
“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.
The senate president also said parliament was never intended to operate behind closed doors, stressing that democracy could only flourish when citizens were adequately informed, actively engaged and confident that their voices were reflected in the legislative process.
“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 ‘Open Week’ offers Nigerians an opportunity to look beyond public perceptions and appreciate parliament as the institution where citizens’ aspirations are translated into laws, oversight and representation for national development.
“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 said.
Akpabio described openness in governance as a democratic necessity rather than a ceremonial exercise.
He noted that enduring democracies were sustained by legislatures capable of accommodating diverse opinions and reconciling competing national interests.
“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.
He noted that transparency extended beyond allowing citizens to observe legislative proceedings, adding that every Nigerian, irrespective of location or status, deserved meaningful representation and equal consideration in national decision-making.
“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.
“A parliament willing to listen will become more responsive, while a listening democracy will continue to grow stronger.
“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,” he said.
Earlier, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, said the programme was founded on the belief that an open and responsive parliament was essential for building public confidence and strengthening democratic institutions.
Abbas said the initiative would create opportunities for meaningful dialogue between legislators, citizens, civil society organisations, development partners and the private sector, while promoting transparency and inclusive governance.
The three-day event will feature series of high-level, people-centred engagements aimed at bridging the gap between lawmakers, citizens, the private sector and policymakers, while encouraging greater public participation in the legislative process. (NAN)
