The National Assembly on Tuesday launched its Open Week with a renewed pledge to make the legislature more transparent, accessible and accountable, as Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for stronger public participation in the lawmaking process.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held at the House of Representatives Chamber in Abuja, Akpabio said the initiative reflects the 10th National Assembly’s commitment to rebuilding public confidence by opening Parliament to greater scrutiny and engagement.
He stressed that the legislature exists to serve the people and must remain responsive to their expectations.
“Parliament belongs not to those elected to sit within it, but to the millions whose hopes and votes brought it into existence,” he said.
Akpabio noted that the Open Week provides Nigerians with an opportunity to better understand how Parliament functions beyond media headlines, describing the legislature as the institution where national interests are debated, reconciled and transformed into laws.
According to him, democracy can only flourish when citizens are informed, involved and confident that their voices matter in governance.
He said transparency should extend beyond public access to legislative proceedings and ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of background or location, feels adequately represented.
The Senate President urged citizens to actively engage lawmakers by offering ideas, asking questions and holding Parliament accountable.
“A Parliament that listens becomes wiser. A democracy that listens becomes stronger,” he said.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, described the Open Week as a strategic effort to strengthen the relationship between Parliament and the people through openness, dialogue and accountability.
He said the initiative is founded on the belief that an accessible legislature is essential for deepening democratic governance and restoring public trust in national institutions.
The three-day programme features interactive sessions involving lawmakers, civil society organisations, development partners, the private sector and members of the public to promote citizen participation and improve legislative accountability.