Abbas: N’Assembly Committed to Driving Economic Growth, Enhancing National Security, Others

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, yesterday said that the major focus of the 10th Assembly is to help drive the nation’s economic growth, enhance national security, and improve access to healthcare.
The Speaker, who spoke at a retreat for members of the House of Representatives Press Corps organised under the Parliamentary Development Programme, said the House was also committed to reforming the education sector and advancing good governance.
He said in line with this, the House has passed about 89 bills since its inauguration, which has helped drive the activities of the country and the Nigerian people.
He commended the unwavering dedication, professionalism, and commitment of the media to bridging the gap between lawmakers and the citizens.
He said: “Through your diligent reporting, millions of Nigerians gain insights into our legislative processes, decisions, and their impact on daily lives. This partnership between the legislature and the media is essential for achieving our core priorities of fostering robust citizen engagement.
“Your work informs and empowers citizens to actively participate in governance and hold leaders accountable.
“The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has consistently highlighted the pivotal role of the media in strengthening parliamentary democracy by promoting transparency and accountability. This underscores the importance of your role as a bridge between the legislature and the public”.
The Speaker said further that the 10th House’s Legislative Agenda is a comprehensive and ambitious blueprint designed to address the critical challenges facing the nation, saying “Our focus is on driving economic growth, enhancing national security, improving healthcare access, reforming education, and advancing good governance.
“Each bill introduced is carefully developed to ensure it delivers tangible benefits to Nigerians and aligns with our national development goals”.
“I am pleased to highlight our significant strides in the past seventeen months. Our One-Year Performance Assessment Scorecard reveals remarkable achievements, including passing 89 bills across our priority areas.
“These include the Electric Power Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Federal Audit Service Bill, 2023; the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, 2023; the Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the National Assembly Library Trust Fund Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
It also includes “the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024; the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the National Anthem Bill, 2024; and the Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023.
“These laws address critical aspects of governance, security, and economic reform.
“Beyond legislation, the House has undertaken various initiatives to deepen public engagement and enhance the legislative process.
“These include the National Dialogue on State Policing, the National Discourse on Nigerian Security Challenges, a retreat on the effective implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, tax reform modernisation dialogues, the Citizens’ Town Hall on the 2024 Appropriation Bill, and the pre-legislative presentation of tax reform bills.
 “These engagements underscore our commitment to ensuring that governance is inclusive, participatory, and responsive to the needs of all Nigerians”.
The Speaker expressed concern about misreporting and occasionally misrepresenting the efforts of the House, adding that “a bill is merely a proposal until it undergoes the comprehensive legislative process, which includes public hearings