Reps speaker warns lawmakers against 2027 campaign distractions, unveils 100-day legislative plan

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has proposed a 100-day legislative programme to fast-track pending bills and committee reports, warning lawmakers against abandoning their legislative duties for political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mr Tajudeen announced the proposal on Tuesday in Abuja in his welcome address as the House officially resumed plenary after its annual recess.

He urged members to improve attendance at plenary and committee sittings and prioritise major bills and urgent national issues.

He said the programme would require committees to clear outstanding reports within defined timelines, while Tuesdays and Thursdays would be devoted to major legislative business.

“We must remain focused,” the speaker said, warning that the increasing demands of the political season must not undermine the responsibilities lawmakers owe their constituents.

“Our constituents elected us for a full term, and they deserve a full term of service,” he said.

Mr Tajudeen said the 10th House had entered its fourth and final phase, making it necessary for lawmakers to assess their performance and complete outstanding legislative priorities before the end of the Assembly.

He also proposed the publication of a comprehensive legislative scorecard and legacy report before the end of the Assembly to enable Nigerians to compare the House’s commitments with its performance.

House records 363 bills passed

Providing an account of the House’s performance, Mr Tajudeen said lawmakers had received 2,747 bills and passed 363 by the middle of June 2026.

He said the rate of passage increased from about seven per cent in the first session to approximately 26 per cent in the third session.

The House also processed hundreds of motions and public petitions during the period, according to the Speaker.

However, he cautioned against measuring legislative performance solely by the volume of bills passed, arguing that the ultimate test should be the impact of legislation and oversight on Nigerians.

“A law must solve a problem. A motion must lead to action. An investigation must protect the public interest. Oversight must improve the management of public resources,” he said.

Mr Tajudeen added that an internal assessment of the House’s performance against its Legislative Agenda showed that it had completed between 65 and 70 per cent of its principal milestones.

He urged lawmakers to use the remaining period to conclude priority legislation, strengthen oversight and ensure that outstanding proposals did not expire without consideration.

State police, reserved seats for women top priorities

The speaker identified the conclusion of the constitutional review process as one of the House’s immediate priorities, specifically mentioning the proposed state police and reserved seats for women bills.

He said the bills and other outstanding constitutional alteration proposals required sustained engagement with the Senate and the State Houses of Assembly.

The state police proposal seeks to introduce a policing structure that would allow states to establish their own police services, while the reserved seats proposal seeks to increase women’s representation in legislative institutions.

Mr Tajudeen also urged the Executive to submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework for the 2027 budget promptly to give lawmakers sufficient time to scrutinise the fiscal proposals ahead of the next appropriation process.

He said timely submission would help the National Assembly conduct a thorough review and lay the foundation for the passage of the budget within the required timeframe.

The Speaker further disclosed that the House would give attention to bills and requests transmitted by President Bola Tinubu, including the National Research Development Fund Bill and a request for the domestication of the Geneva Conventions and their relevant protocols.

According to him, the proposed domestication of the international humanitarian law instruments would strengthen protections for civilians, wounded persons and prisoners during armed conflicts.

He commended the president for transmitting the request, describing it as significant to Nigeria’s national and diplomatic interests.

Speaker tasks lawmakers on 2027 elections

Mr Tajudeen also urged lawmakers to protect the integrity of the electoral process as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said the Electoral Act must be faithfully implemented and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) given the lawful support required to perform its duties.

He added that public institutions involved in the elections must act with neutrality, competence and restraint.

The speaker acknowledged that political realignments and defections had occurred across party lines but urged members not to allow partisan interests to undermine the work of the House.

“Whatever our political affiliations or personal ambitions, we remain members of one House. We are bound by one Constitution and one oath. The campaign must never become more important than the country,” he said.

He called on lawmakers to maintain regular attendance at plenary and committee sittings, insisting that legislation and oversight must continue despite the approaching elections.

Mr Tajudeen also called for greater accountability in the management of public revenue, particularly at the sub-national level, following what he described as improvements in government revenues.

He said increased resources available to federal, state and local governments should translate into better roads, stronger schools, safer communities and more effective healthcare.

The speaker cited economic indicators, including growth above four per cent, a decline in inflation to 15.39 per cent in August from 23.14 per cent a year earlier, and external reserves of $54.7 billion in September.

He also said Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of more than N20 trillion in the first half of 2026, nearly twice the figure recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

While acknowledging these developments, he said the gains must translate into improved living conditions through affordable food, productive employment, accessible credit and dependable public services.

He also cited new investment commitments in ports, power, agriculture and industry, including the proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Seaport and Blue Marine Economic Zone, as potential sources of jobs and increased exports.

Mr Tajudeen, however, said the government must address continuing security and humanitarian challenges.

He expressed concern over reports of abducted schoolchildren in Borno, attacks and displacement in parts of Ondo, as well as flooding and erosion in Enugu and Abia during the recess.

He called for prompt relief for affected communities and lasting protection against further attacks and disasters. He also said security agencies should receive the necessary support while remaining accountable for the resources and authority entrusted to them.

House to monitor implementation of 2025 budget

The speaker said the House would continue to scrutinise the implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act following the extension of its capital component to 31 December.

He said the extension, approved by the House on 29 September, was intended to protect ongoing projects and prevent the waste of public investment.

However, he warned that the decision must lead to faster implementation and measurable results rather than further delays.

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“The extension must produce faster implementation and measurable results. It must not excuse further delay,” he said.

He added that the House would continue to examine budget releases, implementation timelines and project performance.

Mr Tajudeen also urged cooperation among the legislature, executive and judiciary, while emphasising the constitutional independence of each arm of government.

He thanked members of the House, including the Minority Caucus, for their contributions to the institution and called for continued cooperation in the final phase of the Tenth Assembly.

He said the remaining months should be used to complete priority legislation, strengthen oversight and demonstrate that the House had fulfilled its mandate to Nigerians.