By Segun Otokiti, Abuja
*As Former House of Reps Speakers- Gbajabiamila, Dogara, and Etteh applaud Tajudeen leadership
WorldStage Newsonline– Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen on Tuesday at the second Open Week programme organised by the House to mark the two years in office of members of the 10th Assembly promised that the House would “intensify our legislative work, bolster oversight, deepen public engagement, and advance reforms that strengthen governance, promote inclusive development, and safeguard our democracy.”
Three of his predecessors – Femi Gbajabiamila, Yakubu Dogara, and Patricia Olubunmi Etteh also showed up at the event and took turns to applaud his leadership of the House since two years ago.
Dogara and Etteh in separate remarks hailed Speaker Abbas for introducing far-reaching reforms in the House, saying he is making history in a positive way.
Etteh particularly remarked that the Speaker is the best in the history of Nigeria’s democracy, while Dogara singled out the efforts of the 10th House in the area of citizens’ engagements, commendinng the Speaker for his many people-oriented initiatives.
At the opening ceremony, Abbas Tajudeen said the decision to hold the session inside the hallowed chambers of the House was for direct interaction between the legislators and Nigerians to inform the citizens on the lawmakers’ activities.
It was an opportunity to present to Nigerians, the Midterm Legislative Scorecard of the 10th House, during which the chambers were opened to the citizens and the lawmakers explained their legislative activities to the people.
He said the parliament has acted on the feedback from stakeholders on various legislative activities.
At the ceremony were also the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio; the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli; members of the diplomatic corps and the academia.
Also in attendance were the Executive Secretary, National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Hon. Henry Nwawuba; civil society and non-governmental organisations (CSOs & NGOs), representatives of the Armed Forces and paramilitary organisations, students, and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others.
The Speaker stated that the midterm scorecard being presented serves as “both a mirror and a compass,” saying it shows “our progress, acknowledges our shortcomings, and guides our course for the remaining two years.
“Our efforts to build capacity and engage citizens have been unprecedented. We held national and regional town hall meetings on critical legislation, convened numerous town halls, including those for women and youths, to gather stakeholder input, and invited memoranda from experts and communities.
“We have additionally included citizens’ perceptions in this midterm scorecard. Recognising that public trust in government institutions has often been low, we conducted opinion surveys and town hall feedback sessions to gauge satisfaction with our work. The findings reveal a notable willingness among Nigerians to engage constructively with the legislature.
“We acknowledge the criticisms raised, ranging from the pace of bill passage to the depth of oversight, and have acted on this feedback by streamlining our committee procedures and increasing transparency in hearings. Including this candid assessment demonstrates that the House is not afraid of constructive criticism and is committed to continuous improvement,” Abbas said.
He said the programme reflected the lawmakers’ commitment to an open parliament that listened and responded to citizens, adding that the House would host thematic sessions and interactive events designed to deepen engagement from Tuesday, July 8, to Thursday, July 10.
While Tuesday allowed participants to discuss nutrition and food security with experts from government, civil society, and development partners, Speaker Abbas said Wednesday would feature the special seat bill dialogue on women’s representation, a forum on the constitutional role of traditional rulers, and an afternoon session on the economy and citizen participation.
He added that Thursday’s agenda would include workshops on youth involvement in politics, live media interactions with leadership, and a closing dinner.
He invited civil society, academia, the private sector, and the public to attend, share insights, and help strengthen legislative process.
“Today, as we launch the mid-term legislative scorecard of the 10th House of Representatives, we recognize that this is a critical moment in our tenure. Two years ago, Nigerians entrusted us with their aspirations, and since then, we have pursued transparency, inclusion, and accountability in all our actions.
“In developing our eight-point legislative agenda for 2023-2027, we consulted widely with government ministries, civil society, and development partners. We aligned our priorities with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while preserving the constitutional separation of powers and our oversight functions. Collaborative governance has guided our work.
“We have maintained a respectful partnership with the Executive while asserting the autonomy of the legislature whenever required,” the Speaker further stated.
