The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy must be measured by the level of inclusiveness and participation of its citizens, particularly the youth population.
Speaker Abbas made this assertion on Monday during an interactive session with a group of social media influencers at the National Assembly, Abuja. The engagement, tagged ‘Speaker’s New Media Exchange 2025’, was organized to foster dialogue between the Nigerian Parliament and the digital community.
“Our democracy must be measured not merely by its procedures but by its inclusiveness. He added that the session was designed for critical reflection on the intersection of governance, innovation, and responsible communication, under the theme, ‘Smart Cities and Ethical Media: Navigating the Role of Policy in National Development’Speaker Abbas stated.
Several lawmakers and dignitaries attended the event, including the Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Hon. Henry Nwawuba. Prominent figures such as Kayode Okikiolu of Channels Television; former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dr. Joe Abah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Communications, O’tega Ogra; Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada; comedian Lawrence Oluwaseyitan Aletile (Seyi Law); and Abraham Great, among others, were present.
Highlighting the rising influence of digital platforms, Speaker Abbas revealed that Nigeria currently boasts about 38.7 million active social media users, representing 16.3% of the national population a 5.3% increase from the previous year. He noted that Nigerians ranked fifth globally in the average daily time spent on social media, with an average of three hours and twenty-three minutes daily.
“These figures attest to the unrivalled capacity of digital platforms to shape public opinion, influence consumer behaviour, and drive civic engagement. It is therefore evident that meaningful partnership with the digital community is not optional but essential to building a more participatory democracy,” he added.
The Speaker reiterated the commitment of the 10th House of Representatives to deepen public participation through initiatives like live-streamed plenary sessions, constituency dialogues, the Open National Assembly Week, and now, formal engagements with digital actors.
He also highlighted legislative reforms aimed at promoting inclusivity, such as constitutional amendments to support marginalized groups, the Nigeria Start-Up Act to foster innovation, the Nigeria Data Protection Act to safeguard digital rights, and continued implementation of the Freedom of Information Act.
“We continue to expand opportunities for youth inclusion through initiatives like the Legislative Mentorship Initiative, Bi-Annual Youth Town Hall Meetings, and increased budgetary support for youth development in the 2025 fiscal year,” Speaker Abbas stressed.
Speaking on the need to balance free speech with national interests, a former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dr. Joe Abah, urged caution. In his presentation on ‘Balancing Freedom of Speech Against National Interest,’ he noted that while freedom of expression is crucial, mechanisms must be found to combat misinformation and hate speech without necessarily enacting restrictive laws.
Dr. Abah offered recommendations for safeguarding the digital space, sparking robust debate among the influencers and participants.
The session was hailed as a historic and strategic move by the Parliament to recognize the critical role of the digital community in shaping national discourse and promoting democratic ideals.
