Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will soon present executive bills to the National Assembly. The bills aim to provide special legislative seats for women and persons with disabilities. This move is part of efforts to improve women's participation and inclusivity in the legislative process. Abbas made this known during a meeting with Prof. Justin Green, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, in Abuja.
The proposed legislation on women's representation will provide special seats for women in the National Assembly, separate from the regular seats contested during elections. According to Abbas, the initiative is part of the 10th House's efforts to enhance women's participation and inclusivity. The Speaker said the House had persuaded Tinubu to sponsor the executive bill, which is currently being fine-tuned by the Ministry of Justice. The President has accepted the proposal and is expected to transmit the bill to the National Assembly soon.
In addition to the bill for women's representation, Abbas disclosed that efforts have been made to secure special representation for persons with disabilities at the national and subnational levels. The President is expected to transmit another executive bill to the National Assembly within the next few weeks to provide for such representation. This move aims to ensure that persons with disabilities have a seat in both the national and subnational levels of the parliaments.
The Speaker highlighted that these initiatives are among the innovations introduced by the 10th Assembly since its inauguration in June 2023. One of the initiatives is the National Assembly Open Week, which allows members of the public to scrutinize and engage with legislative activities. This has enabled Nigerians from different sectors to interact with lawmakers, committees, and examine legislative activities, including motions and bills.
Abbas expressed hope that future leadership of the National Assembly will sustain the initiative to make the parliament more accessible to Nigerians. He also congratulated Green and the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management on their decision to hold a global gathering in Nigeria. The event, which will bring participants from 126 countries to Nigeria, represents an opportunity to showcase the country to the international community.
Green commended Abbas for supervising inclusive legislation and governance that captures children, youth, women, and other categories of persons at the House. He noted that the 10th House under Speaker Abbas has made significant progress in promoting inclusivity. Green expressed confidence that when participants from 126 countries arrive in Abuja, they will receive a warm welcome and experience Nigerian hospitality.
The event is expected to promote Africa's participation in the global public relations community. The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, noted that while the World Public Relations Forum hosted a conference in Africa in 2007, it will be the first time it will be hosted alongside the African Conference. The event is a significant milestone for Nigeria and Africa, showcasing the region's growing importance in the global public relations community.
Key points
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to present executive bills for special legislative seats for women and persons with disabilities.
- The bills aim to improve women's participation and inclusivity in the legislative process.
- The National Assembly Open Week initiative has made the parliament more accessible to Nigerians.
