The National Assembly of Nigeria has announced plans to make laws available in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and other indigenous languages. This initiative aims to improve public access to legislative information. The plan was disclosed by Henry Nwawuba, Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, during the 2026 National Assembly Library Week in Abuja. The event's theme was "Parliamentary Memory: Connecting Records, Legislation and the People."
The National Assembly Library is working to make important legislative materials available to lawmakers, legislative aides, researchers, journalists and members of the public. These materials include Order Papers, Votes and Proceedings, committee reports, Acts passed by the National Assembly, gazetted laws and other official legislative documents. The library is a key part of the legislature's knowledge system and a repository of records that document Nigeria's parliamentary history.
The planned translation of laws into local languages will help more Nigerians understand legislation that affects their daily lives. It will also reduce the language barrier that may prevent some citizens from accessing and understanding official legislative information. The National Assembly Library Trust Fund is investing in electronic repositories and upgrading the National Assembly E-Library.
A National Assembly Library mobile application is being developed to allow users to access parliamentary information more conveniently. The app will feature a Bills Tracker, which will allow users to follow the progress of bills as they move through different stages of the legislative process. The library is also working on infographics, audiovisual materials and video explainers that will break down Bills, Acts and legislative procedures.
The National Assembly is taking steps to tackle the circulation of fake, altered or unauthorised National Assembly documents. Public policy dialogues will be organised to encourage greater participation in public hearings and create more opportunities for interaction between lawmakers, citizens, researchers and other stakeholders. Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed the importance of the National Assembly Library in combating misinformation and disinformation.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, highlighted the importance of preserving parliamentary records. He said legislative records were necessary for understanding Nigeria's legislative history and strengthening democratic institutions. The work of a legislature should not be measured only by the number of laws it passes, but also by proper documentation, preservation of institutional knowledge and access to legislative records.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, warned Nigerians against relying on incomplete, outdated or altered copies of Bills and Acts circulating online. He stressed the need for accuracy, security and professional judgment when using technology and artificial intelligence in legislative research and records management. Ogunlana also called for stronger cybersecurity measures as the National Assembly moves more of its records online.
Key points
- The National Assembly plans to translate laws into Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and other local languages to improve public access to legislative information.
- A mobile application and Bills Tracker are being developed to allow users to access parliamentary information more conveniently.
- The National Assembly is taking steps to tackle the circulation of fake, altered or unauthorised National Assembly documents.
