Media vital to educating Nigerians on legislative processes – Abbas

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has described the media as a key partner in broadening Nigerians’ understanding of the workings of the legislative arm of government.

He stated this on Saturday in Zaria at a capacity-building training for members of the House of Representatives press corps with the theme, “Understanding the legislative agenda of the House: The media perspective.”

The retreat was organised by the Office of the Speaker in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.

Accompanied by a retinue of aides and lawmakers, Abbas commended parliamentary reporters for their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the ethics of journalism, noting that with their reportage, many Nigerians are better informed to make decisions on issues that affect their lives.

He said, “Through your diligent reporting, millions of Nigerians gain insights into our legislative processes, decisions, and their impact on daily lives. This partnership between the legislature and the media is essential for achieving our core priorities the core priorities of fostering robust citizens’ engagement.

“Your work informs and empowers citizens to actively participate in governance and hold leaders accountable.

“The 10th House’s Legislative Agenda is a comprehensive and ambitious blueprint designed to address the critical challenges facing our nation. Our focus is on driving economic growth, enhancing national security, improving healthcare access, reforming education, and advancing good governance. Each bill introduced is carefully developed to ensure it delivers tangible benefits to Nigerians and aligns with our national development goals.”

Taking stock of the journey so far since the 10th House was inaugurated on June 13, 2023, the Speaker revealed that a lot had been achieved, promising that more would be done in the remaining life of the current administration.

He continued, “Our one-year performance assessment scorecard reveals remarkable achievements, including passing 89 bills across our priority areas. These include the Electric Power Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Federal Audit Service Bill, 2023; the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, 2023 and the Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023.”

Others are, “The National Assembly Library Trust Fund Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024; the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the National Anthem Bill, 2024; and the Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023,” adding that “These laws address critical aspects of governance, security, and economic reform.”

That said, the speaker emphasised the significance of accurate reporting saying, “Esteemed members of the press, while your contributions are invaluable, I must address a troubling trend of misreporting that occasionally misrepresents the efforts of the House.

“It is important to emphasise that a bill is merely a proposal until it undergoes the comprehensive legislative process, which includes public hearings. Mischaracterising bills as finalised laws mislead the public and erode trust in our work. I therefore urge you to maintain the highest standards of accuracy and responsibility in your reporting,” he added.

A Professor of Political Science at the University of Abuja, Ernest Ereke opened the technical session with a focus on “An overview of the 19th House Legislative Agenda: What you need to know.”

He urged the House of Representatives correspondents to familiarise themselves with the agenda and its thematic focus, to enable them to accurately report the achievements and challenges of the Green Chamber under the leadership of  Speaker Abbas.

On his part, media aide to the Chief of Staff to the President, Lanre Lasisi spoke on “Navigating the parliament to put the 10th House Legislative Agenda in Media Perspective,” while a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at the National Open University of Nigeria, Dr Austin Uganwa took participants through “Roadmap for effective reportage of the 10th House legislative agenda.

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Gboyega Onadiran, thanked the Office of the Speaker and the UNDP for putting together the retreat and call for collaboration between the media and the parliament to deepen understanding of legislative issues.

“This event has provided us with a unique platform to engage with the legislative arm of government and gain deeper insights into the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives.

“As journalists, we recognise the critical role we play in promoting good governance. However, we also acknowledge the challenges we face, such as limited access to information, harassment, and occasional intimidation.

It is reassuring to note that the 10th House, under the able leadership of Mr. Speaker, has demonstrated a strong commitment to transparency and accountability, as evidenced by the establishment of committees to oversee the activities of government ministries, departments, and agencies,” he said.