At a solemn Senate plenary on Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio offered a rare glimpse into the lesser-known reality of life after political office, pushing back against widespread perceptions that lawmakers leave the National Assembly wealthy and comfortable.
The occasion was a tribute session for Senator Caleb Zagi, a former lawmaker representing Kaduna South, who passed away on June 25 following a brief illness. The motion to honour him was moved by Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, his successor from the same constituency.
During the tribute, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia South revealed an emotional detail that stunned many colleagues: before his death, Zagi had reached out privately to former colleagues for financial assistance.
“I was very sad when he approached and said he was actually very sick and was seeking contributions from us,” Abaribe said.
“That’s one of the things most Nigerians don’t understand about being a legislator. The day you leave this chamber is the day the chamber stops extending any benefits to you.”
Abaribe praised Zagi as a principled and selfless lawmaker who served with humility and bridged divides across religion and region.
“He was a good legislator — a true bridge between North and South, Christian and Muslim,” he said.
In response, Senate President Akpabio acknowledged Abaribe’s personal gesture and seized the moment to confront what he called “the fallacy” surrounding lawmakers’ supposed affluence.
“You made a profound statement — that out there, Nigerians think so much money is spent on the National Assembly,” Akpabio said.
“But the truth is, once you step out of the Assembly, many lawmakers are left looking for money just to treat themselves.”
Akpabio emphasized that contrary to the public image of legislators as wealthy political elites, many former lawmakers sacrifice personal comfort for national service — often with no support system once their tenure ends.
“People don’t know that we come here to sacrifice for the growth of the nation, to leave a better country for future generations,” he said.
Zagi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), began his political career in the House of Representatives before serving in the Senate from 2007 to 2011.
In his honour, the Senate observed a minute of silence and resolved to send an official delegation to his family to convey their condolences.
