Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the All Progressives Congres (APC) has enough achievements to present to Nigerians during its campaigns for the general election.
Akpabio said the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration had recorded significant progress despite inheriting what he described as a ”distressed economy.”
He spoke in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he received members of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) on Monday.
The Senate President said in a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, that the Tinubu administration has changed the economic situation it inherited, particularly in the payment of salaries and pensions by state governments.
‘The current President has done a lot for Nigerians. He met an economy in shambles. When he came in, 27 states could not pay salaries and pensions, but today, the story has changed because of his reengineering and thinking out of the box,’ Akpabio said.
He expressed confidence that Nigerians would return Tinubu to office next year.
‘We have a President who thinks outside the box, bringing about innovation. We will have something to tell Nigerians about the unprecedented achievements of Mr President at the campaign grounds,’ Akpabio said.
He listed the economy, agriculture, security, education and fiscal policy among areas where he said the administration had made notable progress.
According to him, opposition politicians are aware of the administration’s achievements but are unwilling to acknowledge them because of their political interests.
‘Those in the opposition know too well the achievements of this government in the area of the economy, agriculture, security, education and fiscal policy, but because they are in the opposition, they won’t say it,’ he said.
The Senate President also defended the performance of the 10th Senate, saying it had recorded ‘giant strides’ under his leadership.
He pledged continued collaboration between the Legislature and the Executive to deliver more benefits to Nigerians, adding that lawmakers were committed to their responsibilities even during their annual recess.
‘We don’t need to listen to social media because it is garbage in, garbage out,’ Akpabio said.
He also assured Senators who would not return to the 11th Senate that their loyalty to the APC and the Tinubu administration would be appreciated. Akpabio urged them to continue working for the success of the APC and the Tinubu administration.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Senator Dandutse Mohammed, said the members were in Akwa Ibom to carry out their constitutional responsibilities and pay homage to the Senate President.
He hailed the Senate for legislation supporting the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and other education initiatives, saying the measures had provided relief to Nigerian families.
‘Nigerian parents are happy because of NELFUND and TETFUND. We are in Akwa Ibom State on sensitisation and oversight on all of the infrastructure executed by TETFUND,’ Mohammed said.