Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has said that many former lawmakers face financial hardship after leaving office a reality that contradicts widespread public belief.
Akpabio made the comments on Wednesday during a senate session held to honour the late Senator Caleb Zagi, who died on June 25 following a brief illness.
Zagi, who represented Kaduna South from 2007 to 2011, was praised by colleagues as a humble and dedicated public servant. The tribute was initiated by Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, Zagi’s successor from Kaduna South.
During the session, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia South revealed that shortly before his death, Zagi had reached out to some former colleagues for financial assistance.
“I was very sad when he came to us. He was seriously ill and needed financial help. We had to make personal contributions to support him,” Abaribe said. “This is something most Nigerians don’t realise that life after the legislature can be financially difficult.”
He added that there is a false assumption among the public that lawmakers are wealthy and continue to enjoy benefits after their tenure. “Once you leave this chamber, the support ends,” he said.
Zagi, according to Abaribe, was a unifying figure who reached across regional and religious lines.
Akpabio, while responding to Abaribe’s comments, commended him for supporting Zagi during his illness and seized the moment to address misconceptions about senators.
“Many believe lawmakers become rich in office, but it’s not always true,” Akpabio said. “The day you step out of the National Assembly, you may find it hard to even afford basic healthcare. Many of us serve the country with little to show for it afterward.”
He described Abaribe’s remarks as “an eye-opener,” noting that the general public often overlooks the sacrifices legislators make.
Zagi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also served in the House of Representatives before moving to the Senate in 2007.
The Senate observed a minute of silence in his honour and agreed to send a delegation to sympathise with his family.