The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has commended the legislative accomplishments of the 10th Assembly, announcing that 89 bills were passed within the first 17 months of its tenure.
Abbas made the statement on Saturday at a capacity-building training for the House of Representatives Press Corps held in Kaduna. The event, themed “Understanding the Legislative Agenda of the House: The Media Perspective,” was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Highlighting the legislative strides, the Speaker noted that the bills addressed critical areas such as education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, and economic growth. He listed notable bills, including the Electric Power Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill, Federal Audit Service Bill, Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, and the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, all aimed at tangible national development.
Abbas also explained the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House, which prioritises eight areas: Good Governance, National Security, Economic Growth, Inclusion, Law Reform, Open Parliament, Foreign Policy Influence, and Environmental Sustainability.
The Speaker urged journalists to accurately report the legislative process, cautioning against the misrepresentation of bills as finalised laws before they complete all stages, including public hearings. He emphasised that such errors could mislead the public and erode trust.
“A bill is merely a proposal until it passes through the full legislative process,” Abbas stressed, encouraging the media to support transparency and accountability as vital partners in democracy.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Press Corps, Gbenga Onadiran, thanked the Speaker and UNDP for facilitating the training, stating it would enhance the media’s capacity for more effective coverage of legislative activities.
