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By Gloria Ikibah
The Speaker House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has praised the 10th Assembly for what he described as a period of sustained activity and impactful work since it was inaugurated nearly two years ago.
According to him, the House has taken a hands-on approach to governance and legislative duties, driven by a well-defined agenda with bold goals and measurable outcomes.
Speaker Abbas made the remarks during the first-ever Policy Dialogue centred on the House’s Legislative Agenda organised in collaboration with the Office of the Speaker, the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF), and UK International Development on MondayinAbuja.
The event brought together key figures from both federal and state institutions, as well as members of the private sector and representatives of foreign missions.
Speaker Abbas said: “Two years later, I am proud to report that these efforts have yielded results. In terms of legislative output, this House has been extraordinarily proactive and productive. We have introduced a record number of bills and a volume of legislative proposals that is unprecedented at this stage of any assembly.
“More important than quantity, however, is the impact: these bills and motions are geared towards the critical reforms our country urgently needs. Already, many of the significant bills that we passed have received presidential assent.”
The Speaker said the dialogue is “a clear demonstration of our shared effort to promote parliamentary accountability, transparency, and a truly citizen-driven legislature.”
Abbas who recalled how the 10th House pledged to regularly engage with Nigerians, report on its performance, and adjust its course based on the people’s feedback, further noted that the dialogue is part of that promise, serving as a precursor to the upcoming Open NASS Week, where we open our doors to scrutiny and present our midterm progress.
He emphasised that the event is not only to celebrate the House’s achievements but also to candidly examine areas for improvement in the spirit of openness and democratic inclusion.
He said that as the House prepares to mark the midpoint of its tenure, it is significant to reflect on its journey so far.
He said: “When the 10th House was inaugurated in June 2023, Nigeria faced significant challenges. The economy was weak, and there were pressing development and security crises. The populace was understandably frustrated and lost hope in democracy’s ability to meet their aspirations. This was followed by the shock of the removal of fuel subsidies, which exacerbated economic hardships and increased public anxiety. We recognised that extraordinary times required an extraordinary response from the legislature.
“Therefore, from the onset, the House dedicated itself to creating and implementing the most ambitious legislative agenda in our history. Designed to deliver good governance, this agenda aims to restore hope in democracy for our people.”
Speaker Abbas pointed out that the Legislative Agenda was not crafted in isolation but a product of extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including ministries and agencies, civil society, and development partners. He recalled how the House produced a comprehensive roadmap to guide its law-making, oversight, and representation from 2023 to 2027.
The Speaker stressed that the House took special care to align its priorities with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, ensuring synergy between the legislative and executive arms of government.
“Thus, our agenda embodies collaborative governance by engaging in dialogue with the Executive. This approach allows us to fulfil our independent mandate while ensuring that our legislative actions support national objectives and address the pressing needs of our citizens,” he stated.
Speaker Abbas explained that the agenda encompasses eight broad priority areas that address Nigeria’s diverse needs. These include strengthening good governance, enhancing national security, revitalising the economy, reforming our laws, and promoting social development. It also advocates for inclusion through an open parliament, directs foreign policy in the national interest, and tackles climate and environmental sustainability.
He said: “Never has a House of Representatives set such an expansive and forward-looking legislative blueprint. The impact the 10th House has made thus far is largely due to the deliberate, strategic, and focused execution of this agenda. We have remained focused and resilient in pursuing these goals, even when unforeseen issues arose.
“We backed our plan with concrete implementation strategies. Each House committee integrated the agenda into its work plans; we established clear milestones and key performance indicators to track progress, and we set up special committees to monitor and evaluate how well we are meeting our targets.
“We also insisted on better communication and regular reporting, which included requiring members to maintain functional constituency offices and report on their engagement with the public, ensuring accountability at every step.”
He added: “Crucially, our agenda was designed with the flexibility to respond to emerging crises. This means that even as new challenges have arisen, we have adapted swiftly without losing sight of our long-term goals. In short, we did not simply announce an ambitious agenda and hope for the best; we put in place the mechanisms and political will to implement it.”
When it comes to representation, Speaker Abbas stated that the members have endeavoured to make the 10th House “a citizen-driven legislature in practice, not just in words.” He said: “In every major endeavour, we have actively sought the people’s voice.”
