President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said that parliament was established to serve the people and not to shut them out of the democratic process.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, Akpabio said the legislature belongs to Nigerians whose votes made its existence possible.
Akpabio said parliament does not belong solely to elected lawmakers but to the millions of Nigerians whose votes and expectations gave it the mandate and purpose.
He stressed that the National Assembly was created to promote public participation in governance.
“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.”
Akpabio said the Open Week was designed to give Nigerians a better understanding of the work of the legislature and to strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.
He explained that the initiative would allow citizens to look beyond headlines and see parliament as a place where the aspirations of Nigerians are reflected in lawmaking and governance.
The Senate President also urged Nigerians to actively engage with lawmakers.
According to him, constructive criticism and public participation would help make Parliament more effective.
Akpabio further said parliament means ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of where they live or how small their community may be, has a voice and is fairly represented in the country’s democratic process.
