By Henry Umoru and Gift Chapi Odekina
ABUJA — Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on members of the National Assembly to remember their moral and spiritual accountability to God as they make laws for the nation.
She gave the admonition during the dedication and commissioning of the National Assembly Chapel in Abuja, a project built by the National Assembly Christian Legislators Fellowship within the legislative complex. The chapel, first conceived during the Sixth Assembly and later initiated in the Eighth Assembly by former Speaker Yakubu Dogara, had remained uncompleted until now.
Addressing lawmakers, clergy and government officials, the First Lady described the event as both historic and deeply personal, recalling her 12-year tenure in the Senate when Christian legislators held fellowship meetings in committee rooms due to the absence of a dedicated worship space.
“This occasion is quite significant for me, not only as a Christian but as a former legislator who only had weekly fellowship in one of the committee rooms. To see this vision come to fruition gladdens my heart,” she said.
She noted that the chapel stands as a solemn reminder that while lawmakers exercise constitutional authority on behalf of millions of Nigerians, they remain accountable to a higher divine authority. She prayed that the facility would nurture humility, moral courage and compassion among leaders.
“As we dedicate this Chapel today, may it inspire humility in leadership, courage in decision-making and compassion in service,” she added.
Senate President highlights moral compass in governance
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the commissioning as more than the unveiling of a structure, calling it a spiritual milestone for Nigeria’s democracy. He stressed that governance must be guided by conscience and anchored in divine wisdom.
“While men legislate for a season, God legislates for eternity,” Akpabio said, adding that laws that reflect justice command both obedience and reverence.
He recounted how Christian legislators in earlier assemblies worshipped in borrowed spaces while holding onto the vision of a consecrated place within the legislature. On assuming office and discovering the abandoned structure, he said he resolved that the project would be completed.
Akpabio also commended the First Lady for her support in ensuring the chapel’s completion, describing her as a pillar of encouragement.
Calls for unity and moral reflection
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu said the chapel symbolises lawmakers’ accountability under divine authority and serves as a place for reflection amid political pressures.
Former Head of State Yakubu Gowon urged lawmakers to prioritise national unity, expressing hope that the chapel would rekindle commitment to cohesion and love among Nigeria’s leaders.
Similarly, former Speaker Yakubu Dogara emphasised repentance and forgiveness as essential to national healing, while the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, delivered the exhortation at the ceremony.
The event drew prominent political figures, religious leaders and senior government officials, underscoring what speakers described as the enduring intersection of faith and public service in Nigeria.
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