By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said that the 10th House of Representatives is committed to greater and more transparent engagement with the public.
Speaker Abbas added that the transparent engagement is necessary to reduce suspicion, build trust, and generate support for the work of the National Assembly.
This is as, he also, disclosed plans by the 10th House to convene a town hall meeting with stakeholders on the 2024 Appropriation Bill about to be laid before a joint session of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.
This, he noted, would allow Nigerians to participate in the consideration and passage of the budget.
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, in a statement, said, the speaker, made this commitment while declaring open a one-day capacity-building retreat for chairmen and deputy chairmen of House committees held in Abuja.
He said, “As we expect to receive the 2024 Appropriation Bill in a few days, I wish to state that the House will convene a Budget Town Hall Meeting to enable citizens to make inputs into the 2024 Appropriation. It is the first time such an engagement is planned at the national level. I invite our partners to work with us in preparing for a vigorous and all-inclusive budget process.
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“To ensure speedy passage of the 2024 budget, I charge all committees to double their efforts and finalise all considerations in two weeks. However, this does not imply haphazard and superficial consideration of the budget. Rather, it is a challenge to you to deploy all resources and make the needed sacrifices to ensure we pass the budget in good time for the good of all Nigerians”.
Speaker Abbas further noted that committees play a crucial role in the legislative process, and have been called the ‘engine room’ of the parliament.
He said that through committees, members develop subject matter expertise and undertake more detailed reviews and scrutiny of bills and other government policies.
The Speaker also noted that despite the growing assertiveness of the Nigerian legislature and its centrality in promoting good governance, committees face several challenges that impede their overall effectiveness.
These, he said, include a high turnover rate and its attendant effect on legislative expertise.
“For instance, the 10th House of Representatives has recorded the highest attrition rate since the return to democracy in 1999. As a result, critical knowledge and expertise have been lost in the process,” he decried.
The Speaker listed other factors militating against committees’ effectiveness including insufficient resources, particularly inadequate funding, staffing, and resources, all of which he said limit their ability to conduct thorough analysis and research.
He said the legislature is central to the nation’s democracy, stressing that a strong House is integral to ensuring that governance is conducted in an open, accountable, and representative manner.
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, said that at the heart of Nigeria’s parliamentary democracy lies the House of Representatives.
“An institution tasked with the solemn responsibility of representing the will of the Nigerian people,” he said.
Kalu also noted that the committees of the House, as the engines of legislative oversight, play a pivotal role in scrutinising government policies, investigating public misconduct, and ensuring that the executive branch remains accountable to the people.
He said, “As Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of these committees, you bear immense responsibility. Your leadership, your expertise, and your dedication are essential in steering the legislative agenda, shaping public policy, and upholding the principles of good governance”.
In a goodwill message, the former Speaker and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila said the Federal Government budget would be presented to the National Assembly “in a matter of days.”
The former Speaker urged leaders and members of the standing committees to unite while scrutinising the budgetary proposals during defence sessions.
Gbajabiamila also noted that committees were key to the legislative process, urging the chairmen and their deputies to work harmoniously.
