…reels out achievements
…treated 1,351 Bills, highest in Legislative biz since 1999
… passed 89 Bills
By Gloria Ikibah
Leaders of the tenth House of Representatives on Friday silenced arm chair critics declaring that the tenth House can never be a rubber stamp.
Speaking at a one-day Citizens Engagement, first of its kind in the annals of Nigeria’s National Assembly, the House leaders told Nigerians that the tenth House cannot be categorized as a rubber stamp.
The Speaker, Hon Tajudeen Abbas after listing the HoR people friendly motions and Bills that will enhance good governance championed by the House equally rejected the toga of rubber stamp.
The Majority leader, Prof Julius. Ihonvbere also noted that “the tax reform Bills before us has not passed second reading as we’re still adequately consulting.
“We cannot be categorized a rubber stamp as we know what we’re doing in the tenth House.
Speaking in the same vein, Minority Leader, Rep Kingsley Chinda said”we disagree to agree on topical issues and in most cases we table sensitive matters during our executive sessions and if there’s need to exchange blows, we exchange but not in public.
The Speaker vacated his seat for a 16-year-old girl to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child.
” The constitutional review committee, led by the Deputy Speaker, continues its engagement with stakeholders on pivotal issues, including local government autonomy, electoral reform, and judicial independence.
“On 18th December 2024, President Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly. The House has committed it to committee review and will host a Town Hall in January 2025 to gather public input, ensuring that the budget aligns with the needs of Nigerians.
” We recognize the economic challenges arising from recent reforms, including removing subsidies. In solidarity with the Nigerian populace, Members have willingly relinquished 50% of their salaries to support government efforts to mitigate these challenges’ impact.
Also at the Citizens engagement, former Speaker of the HoR, Hon Patricia Etteh advised the House leaders to document Bills in various local languages to have a general positive effect as illiteracy tends to deny others of what they ought to know.
Speaker of the eighth HoR, Hon Yakubu Dogara hailed the program noting that it’s the first time reps directly talk to the people they represent.
The Citizens Engagement interactive session had people drawn from all strata of the society, academia, civil society groups, students, rural dwellers from all the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.
