‘Lawmakers may not be able to go home’ — Akpabio asks Tinubu to review police withdrawal order

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers attached to federal lawmakers.

On November 23, President Tinubu ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers guarding very important personalities (VIPs) across the country.

On November 26, some federal lawmakers said the president’s directive exposed them to security risks.

At the joint sitting of the national assembly during the presentation of the 2026 appropriation bill on Friday, Akpabio said lawmakers had expressed concern that the directive could prevent some members from returning home safely.

“As we direct the security agencies to withdraw policemen from critical areas, some members have asked me to inform you that they may not be able to go home today because of this change,” Akpabio said.

“We plead with you, Mr President, for a review of the decision.”

Earlier in his address, Akpabio welcomed Tinubu to the joint sitting, describing the national assembly as the cradle of the president’s public service journey.

He also welcomed Vice-President Kashim Shettima and members of the federal executive council (FEC) to the chamber.

The senate president noted that collaboration between the executive and the legislature is essential for national progress, dismissing claims that such cooperation amounted to legislative compromise.

He said budgeting derives meaning and momentum when anchored on a constitutional partnership rather than rivalry between institutions.

He described the 2026 appropriation bill as a statement of intent and a roadmap for Nigeria’s next phase of national renewal.

“Over the past year, our country has navigated a period of significant transition in the midst of challenges,” Akpabio said.

“Families have felt the strain of rising costs. Businesses have adjusted to a changing economic environment.

“Young Nigerians have asked hard and legitimate questions about opportunity, fairness, and their place in the nation’s future. Insecurity has tested our collective resolve and reminded us that peace is not a gift we inherit but a responsibility we must constantly defend.

“Yet history teaches us something enduring: Nigeria does not retreat in the face of difficulty—we confront it.

“We confront it with resilience forged in adversity, with faith in our shared destiny, and with an unyielding belief that tomorrow can be better than today.

“From one generation to the next, this nation has survived storms not by surrendering to despair, but by standing together, reforming what must be reformed, and renewing our commitment to justice, inclusivity, and progress.”

He said the 2025 budget required difficult but necessary reforms that prioritised long-term national interest over short-term comfort.

The senate president said the 10th senate had recorded one of the highest legislative outputs in Nigeria’s history.

He said the senate passed landmark bills on security, economic reform, governance, judicial administration, electoral integrity, infrastructure and social protection.

Akpabio said the laws strengthened the legal framework for combating insecurity, improved public finance management and enhanced access to justice.

He said the national assembly remained committed to strengthening legal and budgetary support for security agencies.