Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has reaffirmed the House’s commitment to upholding the Freedom of Information Act as a vital instrument for transparency and accountability in governance.
 
Speaking at the Speaker’s New Media Exchange 2025, Abbas emphasised the importance of access to information in building a more participatory democracy, while noting the House’s efforts to deepen public participation in governance, promote inclusivity and advance the rights of marginalised communities.
 
The event, with the theme, ‘Smart Cities and Ethical Media: Navigating the Role of Policy in National Development’, brought together policymakers, digital influencers and other stakeholders to discuss critical issues shaping Nigeria’s development.
 
Abbas noted that the House demonstrated its commitment to transparency through various initiatives, including live-streamed plenary and the yearly Open National Assembly Week, while stressing the importance of inclusivity in democracy.
  
He noted the significance of digital platforms in modern governance, citing Nigeria’s 38.7 million active social media users and the substantial influence of digital media on public opinion and civic engagement. 
  
Emphasising the need for a partnership between the government and the digital community to build a more participatory democracy, the Speaker outlined the legislative agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, which focused on deepening public participation in governance, promoting inclusivity and advancing the rights of marginalised communities.  
 
He hailed initiatives such as the Nigeria Start-Up Act and Nigeria Data Protection Act, which aim to foster innovation and protect digital rights.

While noting that the significance of the collaboration was underscored by compelling data, the Speaker said Nigeria’s digital landscape expanded rapidly, with approximately 38.7 million active social media users as of 2025, representing 16.3 per cent of the national population and marking a 5.3 per cent increase from the previous year.
 
“In a nation whose demographic composition is overwhelmingly youthful, and where digital platforms have become central to information exchange, advocacy and civic engagement, it is both strategic and necessary to forge this partnership.
 
“Platforms such as Facebook and TikTok dominate usage, with 38.7 million and 37.4 million users, respectively, while YouTube, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) also command substantial following,” he said.
  
Leading the influencers to speak, a former Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr Joe Abah, noted that the tension between freedom of speech and national interest subsisted for centuries, with many philosophers applying their minds to trying to find a balance between the two.