By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – In a landmark move to deepen democratic governance and fast-track national development, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives on Monday declared open the inaugural National Policy Dialogue on the Legislative Agenda, unveiling an ambitious reform-driven legislative roadmap aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Welcoming lawmakers, civil society actors, development partners, and academia to the historic gathering, the Deputy Speaker described the Dialogue as a “turning point for inclusive and responsive lawmaking in Nigeria,” pledging that the House of Representatives will remain a “custodian of Nigeria’s democratic future.”
He lauded President Tinubu’s transformative leadership, citing bold fiscal and security reforms as evidence of Nigeria’s shift from “potential to performance” and “despair to hope.” He also praised Speaker Abbas Tajudeen for his dynamic leadership, under which the House has processed over 1,000 bills since June 2023.
Central to the event was the presentation of the House’s Eight-Pillar Legislative Agenda, directly supporting the president’s eight-point economic plan. The agenda spans critical reform areas, including:
Anti-Corruption & Governance: Modernizing parliamentary operations and expanding audit oversight;
Security: Reforming the police and integrating tech-driven surveillance;
Social Development: Expanding higher education access and youth welfare;
Inclusivity: Introducing special seats for women and diaspora voting rights;
Economic Growth: Launching Citizenship-by-Investment and ending export bans;
Fiscal Federalism: Advancing mineral rights devolution and revenue realignment;
Environment: Establishing a Climate Change Fund and green energy regulation;
Law Reform: Driving over 30 constitutional amendments, including a proposed shift to a parliamentary system.
The Dialogue also aims to institutionalize stakeholder engagement in legislative processes, ensure evidence-based policymaking, and make the platform a permanent fixture in Nigeria’s governance calendar.
Reinforcing recent wins under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Deputy Speaker highlighted the unification of exchange-rate windows, increased capital inflows, and passage of tax reform laws as proof of legislative impact.
He credited development partners like the European Union, British High Commission, and PLAC for their technical support, urging participants to use the Dialogue as a platform to “interrogate, refine, and co-create” laws that will shape Nigeria’s democratic future.
“Together,” he concluded, “let us craft laws worthy of our nation’s promise and secure a future of shared prosperity and enduring democratic strength.”
