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Citizens’ engagement remains cornerstone of effective legislature – Speaker Abbas

Published

8 months ago

July 6, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has said that citizens’ engagement is fundamental to any effective legislature, which is why the 10th House would ensure its entrenchment.

Speaker Abbas who stated this on Friday night at the dinner/gala to mark the end of the 2024 House of Representatives Open Week, which commenced on Wednesday, said the entire event “has vividly demonstrated the vibrancy and strength of our evolving democracy and reaffirmed our commitment in the People’s House to uphold transparency and accountability.”

“In the face of declining interest and trust in democracy, transparency and regular citizens’ engagement are more crucial than ever. We strongly believe that transparency ensures that government actions are open to public scrutiny and fostering accountability.

“Regular engagements with citizens, such as we have witnessed this week, empowers them to voice their concerns, participate in decision-making processes, and feel a sense of ownership over their governance. This mutual interaction strengthens the social contract, rebuilds trust, and revitalizes democratic values.

“I wish to emphasize that citizens’ engagement is the cornerstone of any effective legislature. The 10th Assembly has embraced the ‘OPEN NASS’ Project, which enhances not only oversight and law-making, but also the transparency of the National Assembly itself. As we hold other branches of government accountable, we must equally welcome scrutiny from the public. Through the House Open Week, we are reclaiming the legislature for its rightful owners, namely, the citizens and our constituents”, he said.

The Speaker stated that the House decided to open its doors to the public in line with its commitments to ensure transparency and accountability, noting that “We have engaged in meaningful discussions, welcomed feedback, and showcased our dedication to serving the Nigerian people.

“We addressed critical issues such as gender mainstreaming in governance, economic growth and diversification, inclusive political participation, and the constitutional role for traditional rulers. The diverse attendance demonstrated the people’s keen interest and high expectations from the People’s House.

“Our presentation of the House’s performance scorecard in its First Session reassures Nigerians that our commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement is not merely a duty but a guiding principle of our actions as elected representatives. The various activities and discussions during the House Open Week have provided valuable insights into the concerns and aspirations of our people and nation.

“As highlighted in our scorecard, the essence of representative democracy is that it empowers citizens to choose their leaders and demands those leaders to give a satisfactory account of their stewardship.”

The Speaker reminded his colleagues, especially the standing and ad-hoc Committees of the House of the task ahead as the Green Chamber commenced the Second Session on July 2.

“All committees are encouraged to enhance their performance and document their activities. Our standing Committees on Monitoring and Evaluation of House Committees and Implementation and Evaluation of the Legislative Agenda are called to action in this regard.

“Though the Open Week ends today, our responsibility to engage the people remains ongoing. In response to calls for grassroots engagement, the House, in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, plans to roll out citizens’ engagement town halls across the six geopolitical zones very soon.

“Our constitutional amendment process will also adopt a citizen-inclusive approach. The onus is now on citizens to actively engage with their representatives. I urge everyone to seize this opportunity to ask questions about governance, participate in public hearings, constituency engagements, town halls, and other forums for engagement. As the saying goes, eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.”

The Speaker expressed gratitude to all those that made the event successful, especially donors such as the Konrad Adenuer STIFTUNG (KAS), the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), the YIAGA Africa, among others.

In a vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Committee on the Monitoring and Evaluation of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees, Hon. Obi Aguocha, said “on behalf of the Rt. Honourable Speaker and the leadership of the Nigerian House of Representatives, I extend a heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the resounding success of this Legislative Open Week, 2024. This event has been a testament to the power of collaboration and shared commitment to democratic ideals.

“This ‘Open Week’ not only aligns with the Lofty Legislative Agenda of the 10th House to serve the Nigerian people with utmost good fate but its contents, contexts, and well-articulated programs aptly meet the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) credentials of a democratic parliament that is responsible and responsive.”

Also in a remark, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mele Kyari, noted the kind of support the Speaker has given in the sustenance of his organization, saying Speaker Abbas “is passionate about the industry, and we are grateful for that.”

He described the Speaker as “exceptional and different in his ways of doing things,” adding, “The industry has been robust all courtesy of the National Assembly.”

News

Naira Continues to slide Against Dollar At The Black Market

Published

4 hours ago

February 28, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Naira continued its fall against the dollar at the parallel foreign exchange market on Thursday.

A Bureau de Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Abubakar Alhasan, said that the Naira dropped to N1500 per dollar on Thursday from N1490 exchanged on Wednesday.

This showed that the Naira fell by N10 against the dollar on Thursday compared to the N1,490 per dollar exchange rate the previous day.

Recall that this is the second time this week, the naira had weakened at the black market.

Meanwhile, at the official market, the Naira rose slightly by N0.04 to N1,499.07 on Thursday from N1,499.11 on Wednesday.

News

Troops Nab Notorious Bandit, Hassan in Zamfara

Published

4 hours ago

February 28, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Troops have nabbed Kachallah Hassan Nabamamu, a notorious bandit kingpin terrorizing communities in Mada, Tsafe, and other parts of Zamfara State.

Zagazola Makama, shared the news on Friday via a post on his X handle, revealing that the operation took place on February 27 in the Gusau Local Government Area of the state. The troops, part of Operation FANSAR YANMA, carried out a well-planned ambush, resulting in a fierce firefight. Several bandits were killed during the operation, while others fled with gunshot wounds.

Initially, Nabamamu fled to nearby homes but was soon pursued and captured alive by the security forces. However, hours after his arrest, his gang, led by Bakin Malam, retaliated by attacking Chediya, Bamamu, and Makera villages. The gang issued threats to residents, warning them of violent action unless Nabamamu was released. This prompted many villagers to flee in fear.

The Nigerian troops, however, quickly responded with superior firepower, forcing the bandits to retreat and preventing further attacks. Both air and land troops were deployed to safeguard the area while intelligence operations continue to track down fleeing gang members.

Nabamamu, who hails from Tsafe, Gidan Alhaji Kaduna, began his criminal activities as an Almajiri before attending Model Primary School, Tsafe. For over three decades, he was involved in armed robbery and later became one of the first Fulani men to engage in large-scale banditry in Zamfara. His criminal notoriety began with a violent robbery at the home of Sani Dan Kyaso, during which multiple murders were committed.

News

FG speaks As Air France Diverts to Togo, Leaving Nigerian Passengers Stranded

Published

4 hours ago

February 28, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Some Nigerian passengers were left frustrated and delayed after an Air France flight, traveling from Paris to Abuja, was rerouted to Lomé, Togo, due to bad weather in the Nigerian capital.

This unexpected turn of events prompted a quick response from Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. He voiced his concerns over how Air France handled the situation.

The airline’s decision to land in Lomé was made to avoid a risky landing in Abuja caused by severe weather. However, Keyamo expressed dissatisfaction with the airline’s plan to leave passengers stranded overnight in Lomé, despite the weather in Abuja clearing up and the aircraft being ready to return.

Taking to his official social media, Keyamo confirmed that he had contacted both his team and Air France to demand immediate action. He insisted that passengers be promptly flown back to Abuja or, if they had to stay in Lomé, they should receive proper accommodations and care according to international standards.

“I’ve been alerted about the situation involving mostly Nigerian passengers stuck in Lomé by Air France. I stressed that they must return to Abuja tonight, or if they stay in Lomé, they should be treated according to best international standards,” Keyamo tweeted on Thursday night.

Passengers, understandably upset, had voiced concerns about the lack of communication and the potential for being left stranded. Thankfully, due to Keyamo’s intervention, efforts were made to ensure their safe return to Abuja.