From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said the House is committed to running an open system that includes citizens in the lawmaking process.
Abbas stated this, while presenting the scorecard of the 10th House, at the “House Open Week 2024”, on Wednesday, in Abuja. He noted that the Green chamber has made concerted to listen to the electorates and reflect their aspirations in the activities of the parliament.
The speaker stated that that approach apart from enhancing the quality of laws made the House, also ensures that legislative decisions are true reflection of the needs of the people.
Abbas stated that an open parliament is crucial to a thriving democracy, adding that by ensuring transparency and accessibility, the parliament can build trust between it and the citizens.
According to him, “the 10th House of Representatives has been committed to running an open House that actively incorporates citizens’ input in lawmaking and oversight processes. We have made concerted efforts to listen to the voices of our constituents and reflect their aspirations in our legislative activities.
” Through town hall meetings, public hearings, and stakeholder engagements, we have ensured that the legislative process remains inclusive and participatory.
“One of the most critical aspects of citizen engagement is accountability. Today, we take a historic step by presenting the Scorecard of the House in its first year. This is the first time any chamber of the National Assembly has undertaken such an initiative. By doing so, we demonstrate our commitment to transparency and readiness to be held accountable by the people we serve.”
The speaker, while speaking on the scorecard of the House, in the last one year, noted that the 10th since its inauguration on June 13, 2023 has introduced 1,351 bills and taken 679 motions.
“In its first session, the House introduced 1,351 bills, the highest number in any first session since 1999. Of these, 89 bills were passed, reflecting the House’s commitment to legislative efficiency and effectiveness. The legislative agenda prioritises economic empowerment and diversification to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on oil exports, ” he stated.
