… vows increased accountability in an unprecedented first-year assessment
The Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, has affirmed that the 10th House, under his guidance, has established an inclusive and participatory legislature in the last year.
The Speaker also highlighted the House’s adherence to its Legislative Agenda, which was unveiled in October 2023.
Speaker Abbas addressed attendees at the National Assembly on Wednesday during the unveiling of the one-year performance report of the 10th House of Representatives at the commencement of a 3-day ‘Open Week’ celebration orchestrated by the Green Chamber.
The event was also held to commemorate 25 years of continuous legislative activities in the history of the National Assembly.
Speaker Abbas acknowledged the significant challenges faced by the House due to the prevailing socioeconomic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
He mentioned that the Green Chamber has responded by introducing a total of 1,351 bills, the highest number in any inaugural session since 1999, with 89 bills successfully passed.
He stressed that the utmost importance of citizen engagement is accountability, stating, “The 10th House of Representatives is dedicated to operating with transparency by actively involving citizens in the legislative and oversight processes. We have made a deliberate effort to listen to the concerns of our constituents and incorporate their aspirations into our legislative endeavors.
“Through town hall meetings, public hearings, and stakeholder consultations, we have maintained an inclusive and participatory legislative process. This approach not only enhances the quality of our legislation but also ensures that our decisions are grounded in the genuine needs and desires of the Nigerian people. This initiative has not been undertaken by any other chamber of the National Assembly.
“By doing so, we demonstrate our commitment to transparency and our willingness to be held accountable by the people we represent. Presenting our performance report publicly allows us to showcase our accomplishments, recognize our challenges, and outline our future plans. It reinforces the notion that the parliament is not merely a legislative body but an institution answerable to its constituents for its actions and effectiveness.
“This evaluation of performance was conducted to assess how effectively the 10th House of Representatives has implemented its legislative agenda during its first session. The evaluation serves several crucial purposes: (i) to measure the readiness and institutional capability of the 10th House to fulfill its mandate amidst challenging national circumstances, (ii) to evaluate the maturity of our democracy, which greatly depends on the effectiveness of the legislative branch of government, and (iii) to document the evaluation report as a valuable resource in the expanding literature on legislative activism.
Elaborating on the sectoral significance of the House’s legislative interventions over the past year, Speaker Abbas mentioned that a comprehensive study was conducted to evaluate the various efforts and their impacts using key standing committees of the House, with the aim of providing an accurate feedback mechanism that serves as a guide for future legislative engagements.
“Findings from the study reveal notable progress in legislative activism. In its inaugural session, the House introduced 1,351 bills, the highest number in any first session since 1999. Of these, 89 bills were successfully passed, reflecting the House’s commitment to legislative efficiency and efficacy. The legislative agenda prioritizes economic empowerment and diversification to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on oil exports. Key bills include the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of Nigeria’s electricity sector by promoting investments in renewable energy sources.
Speaker Abbas listed several other bills passed by the House over the past year, including the Federal Audit Service Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2023; the Federal Fire and Rescue Service Bill, 2023; the Oath Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2023; the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, 2023; the Niger Delta Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023; and the Nigerian Medical Research Council (Establishment) Bill, 2023, among others.
Regarding public hearings, the Speaker stated, “analysis of sessional reports from committees of the First Session of the 10th House indicates that committees conducted numerous public hearings between November and December 2023. Also, as of June 13, 2024, 679 motions were brought to the floor of the 10th House. Of these, 672 (99%) were under consideration by various committees, while seven (1%) were rejected. Among these motions, 43 (6.0%) were referred to ad-hoc committees and 629 (93%) to standing committees.”
Discussing the oversight visits and inspections carried out by the House over the past year, the Speaker revealed that “House Committees visited 107 Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and projects nationwide. This is noteworthy as most standing committees were inaugurated between November and December 2023, averaging 1-2 visits per committee. These visits aimed to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of government programs and administration in line with legislative objectives.”
“The House committees convened a total of 502 meetings during the first session of the 10th House. Further analysis indicates the frequency of meetings conducted by 117 House committees. The data shows that 91 committees (77.8%) held between 1 and 5 meetings, 21 committees (17.9%) conducted between 6 and 10 meetings, and 4 committees (3.4%) held more than 11 meetings each. However, one committee did not convene any meetings during this period,” he added.
The Speaker also emphasized the legislative initiatives aimed at resolving public complaints through the House Committee on Public Petitions, where a total of 240 petitions were received in one year, with 40 of those cases closed and 10 presented before the House for resolution. A similar approach has been taken in resolving industrial disputes between organized labor and the government.
“The 10th House has played a crucial role in mediating conflicts and ensuring the peaceful resolution of crises before they escalate. An exemplary case of such intervention is with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), where timely dialogue and negotiations led to the successful suspension of a nationwide strike, thereby preventing further potential economic disruptions. Additionally, the House’s proactive engagement with the Nigerian Teachers Union swiftly resolved their grievances, ensuring minimal disruptions in the educational sector. Likewise, their effective mediation with the Nigerian Medical Association facilitated the resolution of critical issues, fostering stability within the healthcare sector,” the Speaker remarked.
Speaker Abbas highlighted that these efforts and their outcomes were the result of a harmonious working relationship between the 10th House and the Executive arm of government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The diverse legislative activities outlined in our performance report were made feasible through the harmonious partnership between the 10th House of Representatives and the other branches of government in the inaugural year of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. This should be acknowledged in light of the usual tensions between the legislative and executive branches in the early stages of the democratization process.
“Without compromising on the necessity of checks and balances, which are fundamental to democracy, the 10th House of Representatives, the executive, and judicial branches of government have maintained mutual institutional support for the promotion of democratic good governance.”
