The Speaker stated that the parliament was prepared to welcome public participation in efforts to address the difficulties the nation was facing in his remarks at a stakeholders’ meeting held by the House’s Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda on Monday in Abuja.
Speaker Abbas stated that it was a “critical stakeholders’ meeting” to incorporate public feedback into the 10th House’s legislative agenda.
He declared: “We want to have a legislative agenda that satisfies citizens’ needs and expectations and that they can use as a yardstick to judge and assess our success after four years. As a result, today’s meeting shouldn’t be viewed as business as usual. Take it seriously as a national assignment.
The Speaker stated that the parliament was prepared to welcome public participation in efforts to address the difficulties the nation was facing in his remarks at a stakeholders’ meeting held by the House’s Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda on Monday in Abuja.
Speaker Abbas stated that it was a “critical stakeholders’ meeting” to incorporate public feedback into the 10th House’s legislative agenda.
The speaker continued, “I equally promised that while the House must develop a Legislative Agenda for which our constituents will hold us accountable, the House would not hesitate to consult critical stakeholders in developing the agenda to elicit their input and areas of expectations, which is the reason we have gathered here this morning.”
Speaker Abbas stated that citizen participation is the foundation of representative democracy and that only through such participation will legislators really represent the people. Anything less would be a democracy without the people, he continued.
The Speaker continued, saying, “I urge the stakeholders gathered here to make the most of this significant opportunity.” The Committee on Legislative Agenda had convened the forum as part of its mandate to hear from citizens about what they believed to be the nation’s most urgent legislative need.
Speaker Abbas stated that the discussions should focus on “the critical needs of our people at this time.”
The Speaker also made clear that the House would give participatory budgeting, law reform, electoral reform, women’s participation and inclusion in governance, improved socioeconomic conditions, entrepreneurship, employment, health care, and education, infrastructure, citizen-focused diplomacy, institutional capacity, and citizen engagement, as well as a constitutional amendment and restructuring, top priority.
“Our interaction with the public will go beyond the consultation we’ve just had. The 10th House of Representatives’ “Open NASS” initiative necessitates ongoing consultations with the public as we work to return the Legislature to its rightful owners through frequent, significant, and fruitful contacts. Legislators must also maintain operational constituency offices to maintain regular contact with their constituents.
Speaking on behalf of the National Assembly, Speaker Abbas commended the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom for their assistance throughout the years, particularly for supporting the House on the Legislative Agenda.
Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, majority leader of the House and head of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda, mentioned earlier in his welcome message represented “a critical juncture in the history of our country as we gather input to develop a comprehensive blueprint to foster progress, prosperity, and inclusivity throughout our great nation.”
According to him, the House for Nigeria envisions a rich and thriving Nigeria where each citizen can realize their full potential.
“We picture a Nigeria with a healthy, diversified economy, first-rate infrastructure, transformative education, universal access to healthcare, and open, responsible government. This vision cuts across political parties, and it is the dream of all Nigerians, he remarked.
The legislative agenda’s five main pillars were outlined by the chairman, who listed them as follows: infrastructural development, education and human capital development, universal access to healthcare, transparent government and accountability, and economic empowerment and diversification.
As the people’s representatives, we have the huge responsibility of directing the course of our nation’s growth, Ihonvbere remarked.The Legislative Agenda is the result of countless hours, extensive consultations, and thorough research with the goal of tackling the pressing issues facing our country and grasping the numerous opportunities that lie ahead.
