Tajudeen Hails Colleagues, Says 10th House extraordinarily proactive, productive for two years
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has hailed his colleagues for the proactiveness and productivity of the 10th House since its inauguration almost two years ago. He also noted that the Legislative Agenda of the 10th, with far-reaching and ambitious proposals and targets, has produced results.
The Speaker made this known in Abuja on Monday, May 12, at the inaugural Policy Dialogue on the Legislative Agenda of the House, which had top government officials and organisations at the federal and state levels in attendance. The private sector and the diplomatic corps were also represented.
Core Reporters understand that 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.
While delivering his key note address, Speaker Abbas said: “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.”
The Speaker said the dialogue is “a clear demonstration of our shared effort to promote parliamentary accountability, transparency, and a truly citizen-driven legislature.”
While recalling how the 10th house pledged to regularly engage with Nigerians, report on its performance, and adjust its course based on the people’s feedback, the Speaker noted that the dialogue is part of that promise, “serving as a precursor to the upcoming Open NASS Week, where we open our doors to scrutiny and present our midterm progress.”
He 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.
He said: “When the 10th House was inaugurated in June 2023, Nigeria faced significant challenges. The economy was weak, and there were pressing development and security crises. The populace was understandably frustrated and lost hope in democracy’s ability to meet their aspirations. This was followed by the shock of the removal of fuel subsidies, which exacerbated economic hardships and increased public anxiety. We recognised that extraordinary times required an extraordinary response from the legislature.
“Therefore, from the onset, the House dedicated itself to creating and implementing the most ambitious legislative agenda in our history. Designed to deliver good governance, this agenda aims to restore hope in democracy for our people.”
When it comes to representation, Speaker Abbas stated that the members have endeavoured to make the 10th House “a citizen-driven legislature in practice, not just in words.” He said: “In every major endeavour, we have actively sought the people’s voice.”
In the same vein, the Deputy Speaker Rt hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu while presenting his welcome address acknowledged the inspiring leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose Renewed Hope Agenda has redefined Nigeria’s developmental trajectory. His bold reforms-from fiscal restructuring to security sector overhauls-have laid a resilient foundation for prosperity.
He noted that under his stewardship, Nigeria is witnessing a paradigm shift: a nation transitioning from potential to performance, from challenges to solutions, and from despair to hope
He said, under Speaker Abbas Tajudeen’s astute leadership, the House has considered over 1,059 bills since June 13, 2023, spanning every facet of national life: from foundational amendments to our Constitution to sector-specific reforms in education, health, security, and the economy.
According to him, “Our eight-pillar Legislative Agenda, drawn directly from the attached “Legislative Agenda 2.0” document and structured to support the President’s eight-point plan, includes:
1, Good Governance & Anti-Corruption: E-Parliament modernization, expansion of auditing oversight, and separation of executive-judicial functions.
2. National Security: Police reform bills (including the State Police Bill), modernization of intelligence sharing, and integration of private CCTV into national security networks.
3. Social Sector Development: Establishment of new universities, polytechnics, and health-science institutions; amendments to the Student Loan Access Act; and expansion of the National Youths Welfare Scheme.
4. Inclusive & Open Parliament: The Special Seats Bill for Women, Youth Quotas, and Voting Rights reform for Nigerians abroad.
5. Economic Growth & Diversification: Citizenship-by-Investment, Export Prohibition repeal, and Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme.
6. Fiscal Federalism & Resource Control: Mineral and water rights devolution, revenue-sharing realignments, and the Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account) Bill.
7. Environmental Sustainability: Establishment of the Nigeria Climate Change Fund, Bio-Fuels Energy Regulatory Commission, and amendments to the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission.
8. Law Reform & Constitutional Review: Over thirty (30) alteration bills to the 1999 Constitution, Local Government autonomy measures, and the proposed parliamentary system transition.
“I salute Rt. Hon. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen PhD, GCON, for orchestrating this legislative surge, and I commend Hon. Cyril Hart Godwin and Hon. Chinwe Nnabuife Clara for rigorously monitoring its implementation, ensuring that our statutes are not only enacted, but measured for impact.”
