MON MAY 12 2025-theGBJournal| Speaking during the inaugural Policy Dialogue on the Legislative Agenda of the House on Monday, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, said the 10th House has been proactive and productive since its inauguration almost two years ago.
Speaker Abbas also noted that the Legislative Agenda of the 10th, with far-reaching and ambitious proposals and targets, has produced results.
”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, Speaker Tajudeen told the dignitaries, including private sector players and the diplomatic corps, gathered for the event in Abuja.
The event was organised by the Office of the Speaker in conjunction with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF), and the UK International Development.
The Speaker said the dialogue is ”a clear demonstration of our shared effort to promote parliamentary accountability, transparency, and a truly citizen-driven legislature.”
Speaker Abbas emphasised that the goal of 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.
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.
”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.”
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