Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th House to enacting legislation that will improve the ease of doing business, attract investment and drive sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.

Abbas gave the assurance on Monday while declaring open a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Commerce on several bills before the committee at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

He said the House remained focused on passing laws that support entrepreneurship, eliminate unnecessary regulatory bottlenecks and create a business-friendly environment capable of stimulating investment, innovation and job creation.

According to the Speaker, public hearings are a critical component of participatory lawmaking because they provide stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute their expertise and practical experience to the legislative process.

“Since our inauguration, we have remained committed to enacting laws that improve the ease of doing business, support entrepreneurship, remove unnecessary regulatory barriers, attract investment and create opportunities for our people,” Abbas said.

He described commerce as one of the strongest pillars of Nigeria’s economy, noting that it drives investment, stimulates production, expands markets, creates employment, promotes innovation and strengthens consumer confidence.

The Speaker stressed the need for commercial laws that are responsive to emerging realities, technological advancement and international best practices as Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy and enhance its global competitiveness.

He explained that the public hearing was intended to subject the proposed bills to rigorous scrutiny, receive memoranda from stakeholders and ensure that the eventual legislation promotes enterprise, protects legitimate business interests, encourages fair competition and advances sustainable economic growth.

Abbas noted that the exercise aligns with the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, which places emphasis on economic growth, institutional reforms, good governance and private sector development.

He also reaffirmed the House’s commitment to supporting the economic reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration through responsive legislation and effective oversight.

The Speaker urged participants to make objective, evidence-based contributions in the national interest, expressing confidence that the House Committee on Commerce, chaired by Hon. Ahmed Munir Lere, would conduct the hearing with fairness, professionalism and transparency.

He said the outcome of the engagement would strengthen Nigeria’s commercial legal framework, boost investor confidence and position the country as a more competitive destination for business and investment.

In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Hon. Ahmed Munir Lere, said the public hearing was aimed at producing legislation that would strengthen the nation’s commercial sector and improve the operating environment for businesses.

He urged Nigerian businesses to embrace innovation, expand their services and seize emerging opportunities in both domestic and international markets, stressing that the committee would ensure all stakeholders’ views were considered in the legislative process.

Lere assured participants that the committee remained committed to transparent and inclusive deliberations that would culminate in laws capable of promoting commerce, enhancing investor confidence and supporting Nigeria’s economic development.