In a year where many Nigerians are demanding more from their leaders, three senators have stood out for their visible impact and commitment to development according to PWI.

The Parliamentary Watch Initiative (PWI), a civil society group that monitors legislative performance, has named Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sani Musa, and Ipalibo Banigo as the best-performing lawmakers of 2025.

According to PWI, these senators have gone beyond promises to deliver real projects that touch lives in their constituencies from roads and solar lights to health centres and educational programs. Their work, the group said, reflects a new kind of leadership in the National Assembly.

Asuquo Ekpenyong

Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who represents Cross River South, has built a strong reputation for his focus on infrastructure and grassroots empowerment. Since taking office, he has been busy transforming communities with solar-powered streetlights, new roads, boreholes, and educational support.

Under his leadership, over 6,800 solar streetlights have been installed in 156 communities, improving security and business activity at night. He also constructed 11 new roads and rehabilitated key routes in Calabar, including Mayne Avenue and Goldie Street.

Beyond infrastructure, Ekpenyong has invested in education and healthcare, offering scholarships to more than 1,700 students and organizing medical outreaches that have reached thousands of residents.

At the national level, he sponsored the Factoring Regulation Bill, 2024, a major reform expected to help small and medium-scale businesses access over $1 billion in financing annually. 

The bill has already passed its second reading, making it one of the most promising economic laws in progress.

Sani Musa

For Senator Sani Musa of Niger East, development means giving people the tools and opportunities to grow. Known for his consistency in delivering constituency projects, Musa has focused on education, youth empowerment, and community development.

He has renovated classrooms, built ICT centres, and awarded scholarships to students both within and outside Nigeria including some currently studying in China and India. 

His empowerment initiatives have also made headlines: nearly 3,000 residents received N50,000 cash grants, while hundreds of youths and women were given tricycles, sewing machines, and freezers to support small-scale businesses.

To encourage sports and youth engagement, Senator Musa funded mini-stadium projects in Minna and Kuta, creating platforms for young athletes to thrive. Recently, he launched a medical scholarship program for 100 students studying medicine abroad, aimed at tackling the shortage of healthcare workers in his state.

Ipalibo Banigo

Senator Ipalibo Banigo, a medical doctor and the only female among the top performers, represents Rivers West. Her leadership has been most visible in health reform, particularly in maternal care and public health services.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), Banigo has used her background in medicine to influence healthcare policies and community outreach programs. 

She has also been a vocal advocate for girl-child education, pushing initiatives that encourage school attendance and protect young girls from early marriage.

Banigo’s work continues to strengthen the healthcare system across Rivers communities from new health centres to better access to maternal care ensuring that women and children are not left behind in national development.