Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to transformative reforms to improve security, infrastructure and the nation’s economy.
Abbas stated this while presenting the Parliamentary Development Programme to development partners on Monday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is aimed at strengthening legislative capacity and promoting sustainable development across the country.
“This initiative comes at a crucial time. The 10th House of Representatives has set an ambitious legislative agenda which is closely aligned with the reform-driven vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“The National Assembly and the executive are committed to transformative reforms in sectors such as the economy, security, infrastructure, and social welfare.
“We expect the parliamentary development programme to bolster further the institutional capacity necessary to deliver on these reforms, ensuring that the legislature can effectively support the administration’s agenda for national development,” he said.
The speaker explained that the legislature had been under-resourced and under-developed compared with other arms of government, that is, the executive and the judiciary.
According to him, strengthening the legislature is not only imperative but also an investment in the stability and progress of Nigeria’s democracy.
Abbas said that one of the challenges faced by the national and state houses of assembly was the high turnover in the legislature.
He said that out of the 360 members in the 10th House of Representatives, 281 are new members, stressing that this usually disrupts continuity and erodes institutional memory, both of which are essential for effective governance.
According to him, continuous capacity building is crucial to addressing the challenge and ensuring that new legislators have the skills and knowledge needed to contribute effectively from day one.
The lawmaker said that investing in the institutional strengthening of the national assembly was tantamount to laying the foundation for a resilient legislature that could better contribute to the overall good governance in the country.
“A strong and capable legislature is central to driving the reforms needed for Nigeria’s development.
“Many of the critical reforms needed in Nigeria today can only be implemented through the legislature’s lawmaking and oversight roles.
“Therefore, investment in strengthening the institutional capacity of the national assembly is an investment in Nigeria’s future
“As we commence the full implementation of the parliamentary development programme, this meeting formally presents the programme to the diplomatic community and development partners.
“Your continued support will be crucial. The UNDP’s steadfast commitment has been instrumental in getting us to this stage.
“With your partnership, we are confident that this programme will succeed and endure beyond the 10th House of Representatives,” he said.
The speaker sought the continued support, expertise, and resources of development partners to ensure the success of the initiative.
He urged them to take a deeper look at the legislative agenda of the 10th House in order to explore its key priorities, and identify areas where their expertise and resources could contribute to strengthening the systems and processes.
Earlier, the Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-Nigeria) Ms Elsie Attafuah, said the programme was a milestone in the collective efforts to strengthen governance and promote democratic processes in Nigeria.
Attafuah commended the 10th House of Representatives’ vision promoting transparency, accountability, responsiveness and dedication to the principles of democracy.
“Your commitment to modernising the legislative process to align with international best practices is exemplary.
“It requires that we enhance the institutional capacity of the House to be more effective in law-making, oversight, and representation.
“This is crucial for restoring faith in democracy and addressing the diverse voices and aspirations of the Nigerian people,” she said. (NAN)
