Speaker Abbas: 10th House Prioritizes Dialogue with Executive, Pushes for Reforms to Ease Legislative Pressure
By Exponent News, Akure | June 23, 2025
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has stated that the 10th House of Representatives has adopted a policy of dialogue and consensus-building with the Executive arm of government as a strategic alternative to confrontation.
Speaking as a guest lecturer at the 5th Lecture Series of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Monday, Speaker Abbas presented a paper titled “Legislating Under Pressure: The Realities of Lawmaking in Nigeria”, where he explained that the 10th House under his leadership has chosen constructive engagement over public hostility in order to deliver real value to Nigerians.
“Rather than reverting to subservience or open defiance, we emphasize dialogue, consensus, and inclusive leadership,” the Speaker said, adding that informal consultations between legislative and executive leaders now help resolve conflicts early without breaching legislative autonomy.
He noted that this approach has resulted in smoother budget processes and better policy coherence in an era marked by economic uncertainty and heightened public expectations.
Strategic Reforms in the 10th House
The Speaker outlined key internal reforms introduced under his leadership, which include:
Strengthening legislative caucuses.
Promoting open debates before plenary decisions.
Transforming the Whip’s office from an enforcer to a mediator.
Enhancing fairness in the distribution of committee roles across party lines, regions, and demographics.
“These efforts instill values of informed participation, shared responsibility, and collective accountability,” he said.
Abbas stressed that the 10th House is committed to rejecting proposals that do not serve the public interest, while still maintaining a constructive relationship with the Executive.
Policy Recommendations and Structural Reforms
The Speaker advocated for the institutionalization of public participation in the legislative process, citing regular Legislative Town Halls and proposing a state-funded Public Education Office modeled after South Africa’s to promote civic awareness and engagement.
He also recommended:
Establishing a legal framework for a Constituency Development Fund, similar to those in India and Kenya, to ensure transparency and reduce unstructured demands on legislators.
Implementing electronic voting and publishing roll-call votes online to promote accountability.
Strengthening legislative oversight functions through formal collaboration with anti-graft agencies like the EFCC and ICPC, modeled on joint task forces as seen in India.
To combat misinformation and improve public perception of lawmakers, Abbas proposed a Legislative Communications Bureau staffed by professional media experts, alongside enhanced training for journalists covering legislative affairs.
The Pressures of Representation
Speaker Abbas emphasized that the pressures faced by Nigerian lawmakers are not theoretical but stem from institutional weaknesses and the burden of representing constituents’ needs at the federal level due to underperforming local governance.
“Legislators are expected to act as both national policymakers and local development agents,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with countries like the United States, South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya, the Speaker highlighted global best practices—such as publicly funded constituency offices and independent audits of development funds—as models Nigeria could adapt to boost trust and efficiency.
In closing, Abbas affirmed that the 10th House is building a more responsive, inclusive, and transparent legislature that is committed to good governance, fiscal oversight, and meaningful representation.
