Beyond the impressive figures of over 2,200 bills and 1,000 motions so far processed by the 10th House of Representatives, the real test of its achievements lies in measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians, ADAMU ABUH writes.

After processing an unprecedented number of bills, the House of Representatives is taking the unusual step of placing its performance before the court of public opinion. Through the National Assembly Open Week, the Dr. Tajudeen Abbas-led 10th House is inviting Nigerians to look beyond impressive legislative statistics and assess whether its record-breaking lawmaking, oversight interventions and institutional reforms have translated into stronger governance, improved accountability, enhanced national security and better socio-economic outcomes. More than a celebration of parliamentary achievements, the initiative represents a defining test of whether legislative productivity can earn public trust and reinforce the National Assembly’s claim as truly “The People’s House.”

Before the National Assembly Open Week, public perception of the 10th House of Representatives remained sharply divided. While the Abbas-led House earned recognition for its record legislative output, constitutional amendment efforts and increased oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), it also faced persistent criticism over what many observers described as its perceived “rubber-stamp” disposition towards the Executive.

The swift approval of several executive requests including supplementary budgets, external borrowing plans, tax reform proposals and presidential appointments fuelled criticism from sections of the opposition, civil society organisations and political analysts that the House was not exercising sufficient independence in scrutinising executive actions. Critics argued that the legislature appeared more collaborative than confrontational, raising questions about the robustness of its oversight function and constitutional role as a check on executive power.

However, the House has consistently rejected the “rubber-stamp” label, pointing to several oversight interventions that challenge that narrative. These include investigations into the implementation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets, the probe of about N34 trillion in customs duty waivers, scrutiny of revenue remittances by government agencies, investigations into abandoned federal projects and repeated summons issued to heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies over alleged financial irregularities and poor budget implementation.

Defending the cordial relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive, Deputy Speaker of the House, Dr. Benjamin Kalu, insisted that cooperation in the national interest should not be misconstrued as legislative subservience. Responding to criticisms that the 10th National Assembly has become a “rubber stamp” for the Executive, Kalu said the constitutional role of the legislature is not to engage in unnecessary confrontation but to work with the Executive in advancing policies that promote national development while maintaining its oversight responsibilities.

According to him, Nigerians should not equate legislative independence with hostility towards the Executive, stressing that collaboration remains essential where government policies are aimed at addressing the country’s socio-economic and security challenges.

“Our mandate is not expressed in how many gloves we wear to box the other arm of government. It is expressed in understanding national objectives and keying into those objectives. When you see an intentional effort by the Executive to provide solutions, why box them? We would rather work with them to ensure those objectives are achieved,” Kalu said.

He maintained that the House has continued to perform its constitutional responsibilities of lawmaking, representation and oversight, adding that the legislature has not abdicated its duty to scrutinise executive actions despite the harmonious relationship between both arms of government. He also explained that the principle of separation of powers does not require perpetual conflict between the Executive and the Legislature, noting that both institutions have distinct constitutional responsibilities, but share a common goal of delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.

Governance experts maintain that legislative performance should be assessed not by the frequency of disagreements with the Executive, but by the quality of laws enacted, the effectiveness of oversight and the measurable impact of parliamentary decisions on governance and citizens’ welfare.

Nevertheless, public trust in the National Assembly has historically remained fragile, with surveys by organisations such as NOI Polls and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) showing that many Nigerians continue to question the legislature’s independence, transparency and value for money.

Against this backdrop, the National Assembly Open Week represented more than a showcase of achievements. It was a strategic effort by the leadership of the House to confront public scepticism, defend its record, dispel perceptions of executive subservience and demonstrate that legislative productivity is being matched by accountability, institutional independence and meaningful contributions to national development.

The week-long event brought together lawmakers, members of the Executive and Judiciary, former presiding officers of the National Assembly, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, youth groups, students and professional associations. The objective is clear: to narrow the gap between parliament and the people by opening legislative processes to public scrutiny while demonstrating how the House has pursued the implementation of its legislative agenda.

Unlike previous anniversary celebrations that focused largely on ceremonial activities, this year’s event was conceived as a public accountability exercise. Citizens were encouraged to interrogate the performance of the legislature, engage lawmakers directly and evaluate whether the House has delivered on the promises contained in its eight-point legislative agenda unveiled at the inauguration of the 10th Assembly in June 2023.

The agenda, anchored on strengthening good governance, national security, economic growth, social sector development, inclusion, institutional reforms, parliamentary modernisation and effective oversight, has shaped the legislative direction of the House over the past three years.

Ahead of the event, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, argued that the Abbas-led House has emerged as one of the most productive legislatures since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.

According to him, the House has received over 2,200 bills—the highest number in Nigeria’s parliamentary history—with hundreds progressing through various legislative stages and many already receiving presidential assent after concurrence by the Senate.

He further disclosed that lawmakers have debated and adopted more than 1,000 motions addressing issues ranging from insecurity, tax reforms, constitutional amendments, education, healthcare, agriculture and mining to infrastructure development, climate change, youth empowerment, the digital economy and social welfare.

For the House leadership, however, the numbers tell only part of the story.

“The Open Week is an opportunity for Nigerians to see first-hand what their representatives have been doing. It is about accountability, transparency and bringing parliament closer to the people,” Waive said.

Waive added that legislative output has been complemented by an aggressive oversight programme designed to improve transparency and accountability across government institutions.

“Committees of the House have investigated revenue leakages, procurement processes, abandoned federal projects, budget implementation and the operations of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), leading to policy adjustments and administrative reforms.

“Recent investigations into customs duty waivers estimated at about N34 trillion, revenue remittances by government agencies and implementation of capital projects have reinforced the House’s determination to strengthen fiscal discipline and ensure prudent management of public resources,” he added.

Declaring the event open, Speaker Abbas described the initiative as an important institutional reform aimed at making the parliament more accessible and responsive to citizens, adding that democracy can only flourish where citizens are adequately informed and actively involved in governance.

According to him, the House has consistently pursued reforms to improve legislative efficiency, strengthen committee oversight, modernise parliamentary operations and expand opportunities for citizens and civil society organisations to participate in lawmaking.

He reaffirmed the House’s commitment to working constructively with the Executive and Judiciary while preserving the constitutional principle of separation of powers.

Similarly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio reaffirmed the resolve of the National Assembly to build a transparent, responsive and accountable legislature capable of meeting the expectations of Nigerians, noting that the 10th Assembly has prioritised legislation supporting economic reforms, institutional strengthening and national development.

According to Akpabio, opening parliament to citizens would deepen public confidence in democratic institutions and encourage greater civic participation in governance.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented at the ceremony, described the National Assembly as an indispensable partner in Nigeria’s democratic journey and commended the leadership of the 10th Assembly for embracing transparency through the National Assembly Open Week.

He noted that the initiative demonstrates the legislature’s willingness to subject its activities to public scrutiny while deepening democratic accountability.

The President urged lawmakers to sustain reforms that strengthen democratic institutions, promote national unity and support economic recovery through responsive legislation, calling for stronger collaboration among the three arms of government in addressing insecurity, unemployment, inflation and other socio-economic challenges confronting the nation.

Delivering the keynote address, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, urged lawmakers not to measure legislative success solely by the number of bills introduced or passed, arguing that the real measure of parliamentary performance lies in the quality of legislation and its impact on governance, economic growth, national security and the welfare of citizens.

Dogara particularly challenged lawmakers to continue enacting laws that strengthen institutions, promote peace, encourage investment, guarantee social justice and preserve the independence of parliament while maintaining constructive engagement with the Executive in the national interest.

Beyond legislative achievements, national security dominated discussions throughout the opening session.
Stakeholders warned that sustainable economic growth would remain difficult without peace and security. They urged the National Assembly to fast-track constitutional and legislative reforms capable of strengthening policing, intelligence gathering, internal security coordination and legislative oversight of defence spending.

Several participants advocated stronger legal backing for community policing, improved accountability in security expenditure and enhanced oversight of agencies combating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and organised crime.

The country’s economic future also featured prominently in deliberations. Development partners, civil society organisations and members of the diplomatic community argued that ongoing economic reforms would only succeed if backed by sound legislation, effective oversight and faithful implementation.

They urged lawmakers to sustain reforms aimed at improving the business environment, strengthening fiscal transparency, diversifying government revenue, supporting agriculture and industrialisation and creating employment opportunities for Nigeria’s growing youth population.

Participants also stressed the need for greater investment in education, healthcare, innovation and critical infrastructure to drive inclusive development and improve national competitiveness.

Civil society organisations and development partners described the National Assembly Open Week as one of the most significant democratic accountability initiatives introduced by the 10th Assembly. According to them, the programme offered Nigerians a rare opportunity to interrogate legislative performance, contribute to policy debates and engage directly with lawmakers on issues affecting governance and national development.

Throughout the week, exhibitions, committee engagements, policy dialogues, public lectures, interactive sessions and guided tours provided participants with first-hand insight into the legislative process, constitutional amendment efforts, oversight responsibilities and constituency representation.

Yet, beyond the impressive figures of over 2,200 bills and more than 1,000 motions lies the larger question the Open Week sought to answer: Has legislative activism translated into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians? That question remains the ultimate test of the 10th House’s legacy.

For the Abbas-led House, opening Parliament to public scrutiny was an acknowledgment that legislative legitimacy cannot rest on statistics alone. It must be earned through transparency, responsiveness and demonstrable impact on governance.

Whether the reforms, oversight activities and legislative interventions ultimately reshape public perception of the National Assembly will depend not only on the quantity of laws enacted but also on how effectively those laws address Nigeria’s persistent security, economic and governance challenges. The verdict, ultimately, belongs not to lawmakers but to the citizens whose confidence they seek to strengthen.