In an unprecedented initiative, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has pledged to prioritize direct engagement with Nigerians, stating, “We’ll now speak with the people, not just for them.” This was announced during the House’s first-ever live interactive session on Friday, December 20, 2024, televised on NTA and Channels TV.
The session, a groundbreaking move in Nigeria’s legislative history, provided an avenue for the House to update Nigerians on its activities and field questions from the public. Key topics discussed included security, education, health, infrastructure, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Leading members of the House joined Speaker Abbas at the event, including Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, and others. Stakeholders from civil society, professional associations, and traditional and religious groups were also present.
During the session, Speaker Abbas highlighted the House’s achievements, noting that 11% of bills in 2024 focused on infrastructure. He, however, called for increased government revenue to address infrastructure challenges effectively.
The Speaker reaffirmed the commitment to holding biannual citizens’ engagement sessions, with the next one slated for June 2025, and emphasized the House’s ongoing efforts to enhance inclusivity through initiatives like sign language interpretation during plenary sessions.
Former Speakers Patricia Etteh and Yakubu Dogara lauded the initiative, urged the House to deepen its outreach and foster greater participation of women in governance.
The session marks a significant step in strengthening the relationship between lawmakers and the electorate, signal a new era of transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s National Assembly.
