Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said the stronger and vibrant legislative arm is key to during Nigerian development, particularly deepening the democracy.
He described the legislature as an indispensable partner in ensuring that democratic principles take root across the country.
Abbas stated this on Monday at the presentation of the Parliamentary Development Programme of the Green Chamber to the diplomatic corps, development partners and donor agencies at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The Parliamentary Development Programme is an initiative aimed at enhancing legislative capacity and advancing sustainable development throughout Nigeria.
In his remarks, he emphasised, “The foundation of a vibrant democracy lies in the strength of its legislature. Therefore, the Parliamentary Development Programme is more than just a capacity-building effort; it is an essential investment in the very core of our democratic system.
“A robust legislature is critical to driving reforms, ensuring effective oversight and maintaining accountability. The legislative body’s roles in law-making and oversight are fundamental to good governance. Without a strong and capable legislature, the development we strive for will remain incomplete.
“This initiative, launched following the inauguration of the 10th House, has garnered vital support from the United Nations Development Programme, whose unwavering commitment has been instrumental to its success.
“As we present this programme today, it is essential to reflect on the pivotal role the legislature plays in advancing Nigeria’s democratic and developmental goals,” Abbas emphasised.
He noted that this initiative comes at a crucial juncture, as the 10th House of Representatives has charted “an ambitious Legislative Agenda, closely aligned with the reform-focused vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”
The speaker further highlighted the strong partnership between the National Assembly and the Executive, both of which are “committed to driving transformative reforms across key sectors, including the economy, security, infrastructure, and social welfare.”
He stressed: “We expect the Parliamentary Development Programme to bolster further the institutional capacity necessary to deliver on these reforms, ensuring that the legislature can effectively support the administration’s agenda for national development.”
The speaker said the legislature has been under-resourced and underdeveloped, especially compared to the executive and judiciary.
“Therefore, strengthening the legislature is not only imperative but also an investment in the stability and progress of our democracy.”
He stressed: “One of the challenges we face is the high turnover rate in the legislature at both national and sub-national levels. In the 10th Assembly, 281 new members were elected out of 360. This disrupts continuity and erodes institutional memory, which is essential for effective governance.
“Continuous capacity building is crucial to mitigate this challenge, ensuring new legislators have the skills and knowledge needed to contribute effectively from day one.
“By investing in the institutional strengthening of the National Assembly, we are laying the foundation for a resilient legislature that can better contribute to the overall good governance of the country.
“A strong and capable legislature is central to driving the reforms needed for Nigeria’s development. Many of the critical reforms needed in Nigeria today can only be implemented through the legislature’s lawmaking and oversight roles.
“Therefore, investment in strengthening the institutional capacity of the National Assembly is an investment in Nigeria’s future.”
Earlier, the Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme, Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, described the programme as “a milestone in our collective efforts to strengthen governance and promote democratic processes in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu has bemoaned what he called the under-representation of women, youths and other demographies in parliamentary decision-making.
Kalu who also attended the event noted that “Despite their importance, parliaments in many countries, including Nigeria, face challenges in fulfilling their mandates.
“Common issues include limited capacities for oversight, lack of inclusivity and disconnects between laws and national development plans. Marginalised groups, such as women, youth, and the poor, are often under-represented in parliamentary decisions.”
He called on the UNDP to build capacities for budget oversight, particularly with a focus on gender-responsive budgeting and public finance management.
“In Nigeria, improving parliamentary effectiveness involves reforms to make the House of Representatives more representative, transparent and accountable. This is especially relevant for Nigeria as it tackles critical national development challenges such as multidimensional poverty, which currently affects 133m Nigerians, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
“This ‘whole-of-society’ approach integrates government ministries, independent oversight bodies, civil society and the media to foster greater transparency and accountability,” he added.
Highlighting the need to build local ownership for sustainable parliamentary development, he said the members of parliament needed to be empowered to develop institutional priorities.
“For parliamentary development to be sustainable in Nigeria, local ownership is essential. This means empowering members of parliament, particularly through multi-party parliamentary reform committees, to set their institutional priorities and address governance challenges.”
