House of Reps Passes 89 Bills in 17 Months – Speaker Abbas

• Speaker Abbas Tajudeen announced that the 10th Assembly passed 89 bills in 17 months, reflecting dedication to Nigeria’s critical challenges
• The bills addressed various sectors, including education and healthcare, aiming to deliver tangible benefits and support national development goals

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has announced that the 10th Assembly passed 89 bills in just 17 months.

He described this milestone as reflecting the House’s dedication to addressing Nigeria’s critical challenges through proactive lawmaking.

Abbas shared this during a capacity training workshop for the Kaduna House of Representatives Press Corps. The event, themed “Understanding the Legislative Agenda of the House: The Media Perspective,” was organized by the Speaker’s office in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Abbas highlighted the scope of the legislative efforts, noting that the bills covered diverse sectors, including education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, and economic development.

Key legislation included the Electric Power Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill, the Federal Audit Service Bill, the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, and the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act.

“These laws are designed to deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians while supporting national development goals,” the Speaker stated.

He also elaborated on the 10th House’s Legislative Agenda, which focuses on eight priority areas: Strengthening Good Governance, National Security, Law Reform, economic growth, Inclusion, Open Parliament, foreign policy influence, and Environmental Sustainability.

Addressing press members, Abbas urged them to understand and accurately report on the legislative process. He expressed concern over instances of misreporting, particularly the premature portrayal of bills as finalized laws.

“A bill is merely a proposal until it undergoes the full legislative process, including public hearings. Mischaracterizing bills misleads the public and undermines trust in the legislative process,” he cautioned.

The Speaker emphasized the media’s critical role as a pillar of democracy, calling for collaboration to promote transparency and accountability while advancing Nigeria’s development.

In his remarks, Gbenga Onadiran, Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, thanked the Speaker and the UNDP for organizing the workshop.

He noted that the training would enhance the Press Corps’ ability to effectively cover and report on House activities.