By Mercy Aikoye
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has said that Nigeria has recorded unprecedented success in its 26 years of unbroken democracy. He made the disclosure at the Joint sitting of the National Assembly to mark the occasion.
Hon. Abbas highlighted the achievements of the House of Representatives, stating that within two years, the House has reviewed 2,263 bills. “A total of 51 bills have received presidential assent, marking an unprecedented milestone for any President in his first two years,” he said.The Speaker noted that the National Assembly has allocated ₦6.11 trillion (11.1%) of the 2025 budget to the security sector.
“The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act, 2023, signed by the President, has set Nigeria on the path to self-reliance in arms production and logistics,” he added.Hon. Abbas emphasized that the legislative efforts have yielded measurable progress on multiple fronts, including the economy.
“We supported the removal of subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange windows. We courageously passed legislation targeted at tax reforms,” he said.The Speaker highlighted the progress made in infrastructure development, stating that funding for infrastructure rose to 8.16% in 2025. “This is sustaining 440 ongoing road projects, including the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano corridor and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway,” he noted.Hon. Abbas emphasized the importance of social sector reforms, highlighting the increase in allocation to education from 5.7% in 2021 to at least 8.2% in 2023/2024. “The Student Loan Act has empowered over 500,000 students,” he said.
The Speaker noted that the House of Representatives has actively conducted oversight of executive agencies to ensure that laws are implemented and that development funds are allocated properly. “The House Public Accounts Committee has reported recoveries exceeding ₦61.5 billion in outstanding debts owed to the Federal Government by oil and gas companies,” he added.Hon. Abbas highlighted the flourishing parliamentary diplomacy, stating that the establishment of 82 friendship groups has fostered legislative ties with global partners.
“Collaborations with CSOs, including UNDP, PLAC, UN Women, KAS, and YIAGA Africa, have enhanced our expertise and promoted inclusion,” he said.The Speaker emphasized that while progress is evident, there is still more work to be done. “As we enter the second half of our term, our determination is unequivocal: to expedite and finalise the constitutional amendment process by December 2025,” he concluded.
