Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has reaffirmed that the 10th House of Representatives is not an extension of the Executive, nor is it structured for perpetual confrontation.
Instead, he said, it is committed to a governance style rooted in dialogue, inclusivity, and institutional integrity.
Speaking as the guest lecturer at the 5th Lecture Series of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Monday, the Speaker presented a paper titled Legislating Under Pressure: The Realities of Lawmaking in Nigeria, where he emphasized that the House under his leadership has deliberately avoided unnecessary clashes with the Executive, favouring behind-the-scenes negotiations that protect legislative independence and deliver real results.
“Rather than reverting to subservience or open defiance, the 10th House has embraced dialogue and consensus as tools for inclusive governance.
“This strategy allows us to preserve legislative autonomy while ensuring smoother processes, especially on critical matters like budget implementation,” he said.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Speaker Abbas highlighted several internal reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s legislative institution.
These, according to him, include empowering caucuses, encouraging debate on controversial issues before plenary sessions, repositioning the office of the Whip as a mediator rather than an enforcer, and promoting mentorship among lawmakers.
He noted that the 10th House is committed to rejecting or amending proposals that fail to reflect the public interest, while simultaneously fostering policy coherence in a period marked by high expectations and economic constraints.
“This is a legislature that values both collaboration and independence. Through structured engagement, performance monitoring, and inclusive dialogue, we are redefining the National Assembly’s role, not just as a check on power, but as a credible partner in governance and a vigilant guardian of public funds,” he declared.
To deepen inclusion and reduce political friction, the Speaker said the distribution of committee positions and privileges in the House now reflects greater fairness across party lines, regions, and demographic groups.
This, he said, has helped reduce alienation and promote collective ownership.
Drawing comparisons with other democracies such as Canada, India, and South Africa, Abbas said Nigeria’s legislature is redefining party loyalty as principled coordination rather than blind conformity.
The Speaker also presented a policy reform agenda aimed at managing the pressures legislators face in a developing democracy, revealing that one of the key proposals is the establishment of a legal framework for a Constituency Development Fund, modelled after successful examples in India and Kenya.
“This fund would allocate resources to each legislator based on transparent criteria and subject to independent audits.
“It would reduce ad-hoc demands and allow lawmakers to focus on their core constitutional responsibilities,” he said.
He added that the House has already institutionalized Legislative Town Halls across the country to enhance public engagement, with the next session scheduled for June 27–28 in Zaria for the northern region.
The Speaker also called for increased public education about the legislative process, while proposing the creation of a state-funded Public Education Office within the National Assembly to offer guided tours, educational materials in multiple languages, and hearings across states to demystify the legislative system.
To foster transparency, Abbas said the House is moving towards full implementation of electronic voting and publishing roll-call votes online, enabling citizens to track their representatives’ performance.
He also recommended stronger oversight through formal collaboration with anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
“India’s model of joint working groups with oversight bodies is one we must seriously consider,” he added.
To improve public perception, the Speaker proposed establishing a Legislative Communications Bureau staffed by media professionals to counter misinformation and project the work of the legislature.
He also stressed the importance of supporting journalists with training in budget analysis and legislative processes.
Abbas further emphasized the need to clarify the scope of a lawmaker’s role, saying, “Nigerians often expect legislators to function as Local Government chairmen and development agents.
“This mismatch between constitutional duty and public expectation must be addressed through devolution and civic education.”
Noting that legislative pressure is not unique to Nigeria, the Speaker drew insights from other democracies, pointing out that, “These countries have introduced innovations, such as audited constituency funds, educational outreach, and transparent rules to manage legislative pressure and build public trust.”
He affirmed that the 10th House of Representatives is already laying the foundation for a more transparent, accountable, and responsive National Assembly that meets the democratic aspirations of Nigerians.
