By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has urged members of the Green Chamber to renew their commitment to enacting laws that will make a tangible difference in the lives of Nigerians, as the National Assembly resumes legislative duties following its 2025 annual recess.
Welcoming lawmakers back to plenary on Tuesday, Abbas described the resumption as a “pivotal midpoint” in the life of the 10th Assembly. 
He said the period ahead will be crucial for consolidating on the gains already made and for driving key reforms, particularly in the areas of electoral integrity, constitutional review, and national security.
The Speaker who acknowledged the achievements made by the House, stated that it had surpassed previous assemblies in terms of legislative output and efficiency.
“The 10th House has been the most productive since 1999,” Abbas declared, expressing satisfaction with the dedication of his colleagues to legislative excellence.
He added that while the progress recorded was commendable, the expectations of Nigerians remained high, and the House must respond with renewed purpose and unity of vision.
Abbas restated the commitment of the legislature to meaningful governance reforms aimed at strengthening democracy, improving public trust, and addressing the pressing socio-economic challenges facing the nation.
“Between June 2023 and mid-2025, the House considered 2,263 bills, passed 237, and secured Presidential assent for 50.
“These cover critical areas such as power reform, student loans, cybersecurity, tax policy, and regional development”, Abbas said.
The Speaker noted that collaboration between the legislature and the executive had yielded “timely budgets, aligned reforms and effective policy outcomes,” while maintaining institutional independence.
On the economy, Abbas highlighted signs of “cautious optimism,” citing five consecutive months of declining inflation to 20.12 percent and improved food prices. He commended recent diplomatic breakthroughs that restored UAE visa services and Emirates flights to Nigeria, as well as enhanced security operations leading to the disruption of insurgent networks and rescue of abducted citizens.
However, he acknowledged that Nigerians still face “high living costs, underemployment and insecurity,” urging lawmakers to pursue targeted legislative responses to tackle these challenges.
Abbas outlined major legislative priorities for the coming months, beginning with the ongoing constitutional amendment process. He disclosed that 87 proposals on devolution of powers, local government autonomy, judicial reform, and socio-economic rights were awaiting consideration and voting.
“We must complete these votes and transmit the approved amendments to the State Assemblies before the end of December,” he said, emphasising the need to conclude the process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Speaker also placed emphasis on finalising electoral reforms to strengthen democracy and credibility of future polls. He said the Electoral Act Amendment Bill would address issues such as electoral violence, inclusivity for persons with disabilities, and dispute resolution timelines, while introducing single-day voting and more democratic party primaries.
He further announced plans for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, adding that the goal was to “produce a new Electoral Act that stands the test of time.”
A major highlight of Abbas’ address was his call for support of the Reserved Seats Bill for women, aimed at improving Nigeria’s poor record of female representation in politics.
“Currently, women hold fewer than 5% of seats in the National Assembly. The bill proposes creating additional seats to be contested exclusively by women,” he explained.
“They will not affect existing seats but will expand opportunities for representation. We are all HeForShe, and how we vote on this bill will shape how history and our daughters remember us.”
On security, Abbas said it was time to move from debate to action on multi-level policing, noting that creating state police through constitutional amendment remained a viable option. He also proposed revising the Police Act 2020 to devolve recruitment and deployment of community police officers to states under federal oversight.
He maintained that economic recovery and job creation must remain central to legislative priorities, calling for stronger support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), technology innovation, and renewable energy.
“We must speed up implementation of the Startup Act, promote vocational hubs and technology parks, and enact laws to attract investment in renewable energy and stabilize power supply,” he stated.
Abbas commended lawmakers for maintaining unity and stability within the chamber, describing the 10th House as a model of “maturity, inclusiveness, and responsible.
