Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has urged political parties to reconsider decisions that prevent experienced lawmakers from securing tickets to contest future elections, warning that such actions could weaken the National Assembly by depriving it of valuable legislative experience.

Akpabio said parties should prioritise competence, experience and contributions to lawmaking when selecting candidates, rather than treating legislative positions as political rewards.

He made the remarks on Thursday while acknowledging the contributions of Senator Francis Faduyile, a professor and former president of the Nigerian Medical Association, whom he described as an experienced professional capable of making meaningful contributions to the Senate.

The Senate President argued that it was not ideal for a lawmaker to spend only a short period in the National Assembly before leaving, particularly when the individual had demonstrated the capacity to contribute to legislation and national development.

He warned that denying capable lawmakers tickets could deprive the legislature of the knowledge and expertise they had acquired through parliamentary service.

Akpabio maintained that the Senate should not be treated as a platform for distributing political favours, insisting that competence, experience and commitment to national development should guide decisions on legislative representation.

He acknowledged that political considerations within individual states often influence the selection of candidates but urged party leaders to recognise the importance of retaining lawmakers with proven legislative experience.

The Senate President cited Akwa Ibom State as an example, saying he had appreciated the governor for supporting the return of three senators to the National Assembly.

According to him, retaining experienced lawmakers would strengthen legislative institutions, improve parliamentary debates and enhance the quality of laws enacted to address the country’s challenges.

To demonstrate the value of continuity in legislative service, Akpabio referred to the United States, where some lawmakers have served in the Senate for decades.

He cited former US Senator Robert Byrd, who served for 51 years, and former President Joe Biden, who represented Delaware in the Senate from 1973 to 2009.

Akpabio said such lengthy service illustrated how lawmakers could accumulate institutional knowledge and legislative expertise over time.

He further stressed that Nigeria needed to establish a democratic system in which the legislature was recognised as a central institution of governance rather than a place for political compensation.

The Senate President also noted that the quality of governance depended significantly on the quality of legislation passed by the National Assembly.

He questioned how effective governance could be achieved without sound laws and urged lawmakers to focus on legislation that addressed the needs and aspirations of Nigerians.

Akpabio referenced the recent Senate debate on the decriminalisation of suicide, which generated considerable public discussion on social media, as an indication that Nigerians were increasingly paying attention to parliamentary proceedings.

He welcomed the public engagement, urging senators to use the attention to improve their debates and ensure that legislative decisions reflected the public interest.

He called on his colleagues to strengthen democracy through effective lawmaking and ensure that the National Assembly continued to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.

Akpabio concluded by congratulating senators on their legislative work and directing them to return to their respective committees to continue deliberations on pending matters.