By Christiana Ekpa
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has reiterated the determination of the parliament to grant full and operational autonomy to the local government areas in Nigeria.
He also said that the reform of the judiciary is on the priority list to enhance their independence, efficiency and accountability.
Speaker Abbas gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering his keynote address at the “Learning, Dissemination and Inception” event organised by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and the Partnership to Engage, Reform, and Learn (PERL) project with the theme “From PERL to PACE: Learning to Sustain Democratic Governance in Nigeria”.
He said that the reforms were outlined in the 10th Legislative Agenda of the House.
Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Speaker Abbas said that the engagement offered a good opportunity to reflect and evaluate the critical lessons learned from the FCDO’s interventions, which he said, have played an instrumental role in advancing democracy and governance in Nigeria, particularly within the legislature.
He said: “As we approach the mid-term of the 10th Assembly, our commitment to collaboration with civil society organisations remains steadfast. We are working diligently to deliver on key areas outlined in our Legislative Agenda, particularly constitutional review judicial, and electoral reforms.
“Our Committees on Constitution Review and Electoral Matters are fully engaged, with ongoing support from PLAC and the FCDO. We are determined to ensure these reforms strengthen our democratic institutions and contribute to developing a more just and equitable society.
“One area of particular concern is the local government system, a vital but often neglected tier of governance. As our Legislative Agenda outlines, we are committed to ensuring that local governments have full financial and operational autonomy. These reforms are essential for empowering local governments to serve their communities effectively and restoring public trust in grassroots governance.”
