THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called on Nigerians to become active participants in the country’s democracy, urging citizens to appreciate and show interest in the parliamentary activities of the National Assembly.
Speaker Abbas made the appeal on Tuesday while declaring open the NASS Open Week 2026 and presenting the Third-Year Scorecard and performance review of the House in the chambers.
The three-day ceremony, themed ‘Three Years of the 10th Assembly: Advancing Transparency, Inclusion, and Reform,’ was declared open by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“My appeal to the citizen who observes us today is therefore a simple one: draw closer. Acquaint yourself with the true workings of your parliament. Read a bill before you pass judgment upon it. Submit your memoranda when we call for them,” Speaker Abbas said.
“A democracy is made strong not by those who applaud it from a distance, but by those who step forward and take part. Open Week is the hand this House extends. I ask you to take it.”
The Speaker noted that the House welcomes constructive criticism, which he described as critical to good law-making, but urged citizens to study bills and other legislation before criticising them.
Presenting the scorecard, Speaker Abbas revealed that citizens submitted 2,747 bills to the House, of which 363 were passed, with 72 already receiving presidential assent and becoming law.
“These are not lines upon a page; they are measurable and lasting change. These figures represent the highest for any Assembly since 1999,” he said.
He highlighted key legislative achievements, including the Student Loan Act, which offers young people interest-free loans, and reforms in revenue generation and sharing. He also noted that more than 800 citizens have petitioned the House, with hundreds of those matters already resolved.
Speaking on the recent abduction and rescue of pupils in Oyo State, Speaker Abbas declared that “our security forces are gaining ground” and that the government “will not rest until every Nigerian is safe.”
He also disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted an Executive version of the State Police Bill to the National Assembly, describing it as “more robust and more comprehensive” than the version earlier passed by the House.
“The House will therefore recall the version it earlier passed, and accord the Executive Bill the expedited consideration that a matter of this urgency deserves,” he said.
The Speaker paid tribute to the Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, describing the Red Chamber as “a true partner in every national task we have undertaken.”
The opening ceremony attracted dignitaries including Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Health, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate; Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Mrs Ngozi Nma Odu; former speakers Aminu Bello Masari, Patricia Etteh, and Yakubu Dogara; the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli; British High Commissioner Richard Montgomery; and EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot, among others.
