Abuja: The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas, has underscored the importance of active citizen participation in consolidating the country’s democracy. Speaking in Abuja at the unveiling of the National Assembly Deliberative Barometer, Abbas emphasized that such initiatives should not be limited to policymakers but should serve as a platform for wider public engagement.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Abbas stated that these initiatives are designed to empower citizens to engage, critique, and make informed demands from their representatives. He highlighted that initiatives like this provide the bridge to close the gap between representation and public expectation. By advocating for accountability and participation in governance, Abbas commended the organizers for convening the timely meeting, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between parliament and civil society.
The Speaker announced the unveiling of Africa’s first interactive and deliberative barometer, stressing the need to place data and accountability at the center of the legislative process. Abbas explained that the platform tracks lawmakers’ productivity and evaluates policy, serving as a tool for advancing democratic growth. This initiative calls for a stronger impact on the legislative process and the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic culture.
Abbas assured that the House of Representatives is firmly committed to transparency and active citizenship engagement. Reflecting this commitment in their legislative agenda, the House has institutionalized reforms such as the annual NASS Open Week and the Citizenship Legislative Roundtable Dialogue Engagement, held in various cities across the country. These platforms allow Nigerians to interrogate legislative performance, contribute to debates, and hold representatives accountable.
The Speaker emphasized the importance of engaging with youth, women, and people living with disabilities, reinforcing that every voice is crucial in the legislative process. Beyond institutional reforms, the barometer aligns with the vision of the 10th House to entrench evidence-based lawmaking, recognizing that decisions backed by data are more credible and impactful.
He highlighted that the report and dashboard unveiled would serve as a reference point for legislators and stakeholders to evaluate and strengthen parliamentary contributions to national development. Abbas also noted the value of partnership between the legislature and civil society, where effective governance thrives on shared knowledge and complementary efforts between state institutions and non-state actors.
The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, expressed satisfaction in partnering with ERGA-AFRICA for the event. Rafsanjani highlighted the importance of improving the transparency and effectiveness of legislative practices in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for the legislature to serve the people with integrity and accountability.
The Deliberative Barometer offers an innovative scorecard for evaluating the legislature’s performance, understanding legislative actions’ impacts, and ensuring lawmakers respond to constituents’ needs and aspirations. The report reflects the necessity for lawmakers to cultivate a culture of open dialogue, active engagement, and inclusive governance.
Delivering a keynote titled ‘Legislative Governance and Productivity Index: An Insight through the ERGAF-Africa NASS Deliberative Barometer and Policy Focus Report,’ the Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, noted that the report assesses the 10th National Assembly’s activities using data from June 2023 to June 2024. The report contributes to promoting data-driven assessments of legislative governance, crucial for a functioning democracy, especially considering the historical distortions due to military interventions.