“We Incorporate Citizens Input Into Law Making” –  Reps Speaker, Abbas

By Ayodele Oni

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas has stated that the 10th House under his leadership has been committed to running an open House that actively incorporates citizens’ input in law-making and oversight processes.

He added that concerted efforts have been made to listen to the voices of constituents and reflect their aspirations in legislative activities.

A statement by media aide of the Speaker, Musa Abdullahi Krishi stated that Abbas spoke on Wednesday at the National Assembly when he unveiled the one-year scorecard of the 10th House of Representatives at the opening of a 3-day ‘Open Week’ celebration organized by the Green Chamber.

The event was also to celebrate 25 years of unbroken legislature in the history of the National Assembly.

The Speaker noted that the House has been implementing its Legislative Agenda, which it introduced in October, 2023 and ensured an inclusive and participatory legislature in the past one year.

The Speaker acknowledged the enormity of the challenges before the House flowing from the socioeconomic hardship confronting Nigerians.

He said the Green Chamber rose to the occasion by introducing a total of 1,351 bills, the highest number in any first session since 1999, with 89 of the bills passed.

He emphasized that the most critical aspects of citizen engagement is accountability, noting that “The 10th House of Representatives has been committed to running an open House that actively incorporates citizens’ input in lawmaking and oversight processes.

“We have made concerted efforts to listen to the voices of our constituents and reflect their aspirations in our legislative activities.

“Through town hall meetings, public hearings, and stakeholder engagements, we have ensured that the legislative process remains inclusive and participatory.

“This approach not only enhances the quality of our laws but also ensures that our decisions are rooted in the genuine needs and desires of the Nigerian people. No chamber of the National Assembly has undertaken such an initiative.

“By doing so, we demonstrate our commitment to transparency and readiness to be held accountable by the people we serve.

“Presenting our Scorecard publicly allows us to showcase our achievements, acknowledge our challenges, and highlight our plans for the future.

“It reinforces the idea that the parliament is not just a body that makes laws but an institution that is responsible to its constituents for its actions and performance.

“This performance assessment was undertaken to evaluate how effectively the 10th House of Representatives has implemented its legislative agenda within its first session.

“The assessment serves several key purposes: (i) to gauge the level of preparedness and institutional capacity of the 10th House to deliver on its mandate amid challenging national circumstances, (ii) to assess the maturity of our democracy, which is largely dependent on the efficiency of the legislative arm of government, and (iii) to document the assessment report as a valuable resource in the growing literature of legislative activism.”