The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has highlighted the media’s crucial role as a partner in enhancing Nigerians’ understanding of the legislative arm of government.
Abbas made this statement on Saturday in Zaria during a capacity-building training for members of the House of Representatives press corps, themed “Understanding the Legislative Agenda of the House: The Media Perspective.” The retreat was organized by the Office of the Speaker in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Accompanied by several aides and lawmakers, Abbas praised parliamentary reporters for their professionalism, dedication, and adherence to journalistic ethics. He emphasized that their coverage enables Nigerians to make informed decisions on matters that affect their lives.
“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, particularly fostering robust citizen engagement,” Abbas stated.
The Speaker underscored the importance of continued collaboration between the legislature and the media to strengthen democratic governance and ensure Nigerians remain well-informed about parliamentary affairs.
“Your work informs and empowers citizens to actively participate in governance and hold leaders accountable.
“The 10th House’s Legislative Agenda is a comprehensive and ambitious blueprint designed to address the critical challenges facing our nation. 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.”
Reflecting on the progress made since the inauguration of the 10th House on June 13, 2023, the Speaker highlighted significant achievements and assured that even more would be accomplished during the remainder of the current administration’s tenure.
He continued, “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 and the Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023.”
Others are, “The National Assembly Library Trust Fund Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 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,” adding that “These laws address critical aspects of governance, security, and economic reform.”
That said, the speaker emphasised the significance of accurate reporting saying, “Esteemed members of the press, while your contributions are invaluable, I must address a troubling trend of misreporting that occasionally misrepresents the efforts of the House.
“It is important to emphasise that a bill is merely a proposal until it undergoes the comprehensive legislative process, which includes public hearings. Mischaracterising bills as finalised laws mislead the public and erode trust in our work. I therefore urge you to maintain the highest standards of accuracy and responsibility in your reporting,” he added.
A Professor of Political Science at the University of Abuja, Ernest Ereke opened the technical session with a focus on “An overview of the 19th House Legislative Agenda: What you need to know.”
He urged the House of Representatives correspondents to familiarise themselves with the agenda and its thematic focus, to enable them to accurately report the achievements and challenges of the Green Chamber under the leadership of Speaker Abbas.
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Lanre Lasisi, media aide to the Chief of Staff to the President, delivered a session titled “Navigating the Parliament to Put the 10th House Legislative Agenda in Media Perspective.” Similarly, Dr. Austin Uganwa, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at the National Open University of Nigeria, guided participants through a presentation on “Roadmap for Effective Reportage of the 10th House Legislative Agenda.”
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Gboyega Onadiran, expressed gratitude to the Office of the Speaker and the UNDP for organizing the retreat. He emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between the media and the parliament to enhance understanding and coverage of legislative issues.
“This event has provided us with a unique platform to engage with the legislative arm of government and gain deeper insights into the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives.
“As journalists, we recognise the critical role we play in promoting good governance. However, we also acknowledge the challenges we face, such as limited access to information, harassment, and occasional intimidation.
It is reassuring to note that the 10th House, under the able leadership of Mr. Speaker, has demonstrated a strong commitment to transparency and accountability, as evidenced by the establishment of committees to oversee the activities of government ministries, departments, and agencies,” he said.
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