The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, has said that the Green Chamber would soon amend its rules to allow Nigerians send their petitions via e-platform.
He noted that this would be done with a view to eliminating bottlenecks and simplifying the legislative dispute resolution mechanism of the House.
Speaking during the commissioning of the digitalized Hearing Room of the House Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the unveiling of PAC News magazine, Speaker Abbas noted the importance of ICT in the operations of the House as encapsulated in its Legislative Agenda.
He commended the Hon. Bamidele Salam-led Public Accounts Committee for the innovations, which he said would go a long way in enhancing the activities of the committee.
“Incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the work of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of parliaments is essential for enhancing transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the oversight of public funds. Advanced digital tools and platforms streamline data analysis, facilitate real-time monitoring, and ensure comprehensive documentation of proceedings, thereby making the oversight process more effective and accessible.
“The Nigerian House of Representatives is deeply committed to this goal, recognizing that leveraging technology is crucial for fostering good governance and inclusive participation. By investing in state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and continuously updating our technological capabilities, we aim to set a benchmark in legislative excellence and responsiveness to the needs of the Nigerian people,” he said.
Speaker Abbas, therefore, disclosed that the innovation being implemented by PAC would be replicated in the House Committee on Public Petitions, with an amendment to the House Standing Orders with view to giving more and easier access to the public to engage with the legislature with their complaints, just as the latter through its Committee can deal with same and resolve public disputes.
“In line with the above, the House will commence the process of amending its Standing Orders to accommodate e-petitions and facilitate the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in receiving and processing public petitions. This transformative step will be first of its kind in Nigeria and will enable more efficient, transparent, and accessible petition procedures, allowing citizens to engage with the legislative process more effectively.
“By integrating ICT, we aim to ensure that every voice can be heard and considered promptly, thus reinforcing our dedication to a responsive and accountable governance system that truly serves the interests of the Nigerian people.
“The digitalized hearing room is now equipped with advanced technologies and resources, including comprehensive legal references such as the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (1960-2024), Financial Regulations (2009), and the Procurement Act, among other relevant laws. This room features a large smart screen multimedia and other technical devices to facilitate e-hearings, thereby increasing efficiency, ensuring speedy consideration of cases, and promoting the effective delivery of our constitutional mandates,” the Speaker said.
He also commended the leadership of the Committee for its thoughts process of coming up with a News magazine that’s geared toward disseminating factual and accurate information about the activities of the Committee.
“The PAC News Magazine will foster a sustained relationship with the media, civil society, and stakeholders, ensuring that the work of the House and PAC is accessible and understandable to a broader audience. It will provide a platform for sharing knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned, as well as preserving the digital footprints of the Committee’s oversight activities to guide future endeavours,” the Speaker said.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, said the newly Digitalized Hearing Room and ‘The PAC News”, a quarterly magazine of the Committee, were part of the activities marking the first anniversary of the 10th House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
“These landmark innovations mark a significant step forward in our quest to support the 10th House of Representatives’ vision of open parliament through transparency, digitalization, and citizens’ engagement, in line with agenda 1 (Strengthening Good Governance) and 6 (Inclusion and Open Parliament) of the People’s House’s Legislative Agenda.
“This digitalized hearing room, equipped with digital technologies such as laptops with over 100 resources, unlimited internet facilities, large-screen multimedia, and other technical devices for e-hearing, represents a major milestone in our committee’s history. I am proud to say that we are now better equipped to discharge our constitutional mandate with greater efficiency and effectiveness.”
He said the platform would enable PAC to conduct virtual hearings and meetings, reducing the need for physical presence and increasing our reach and accessibility, and access and review documents and pieces of evidence submitted/presented by Ministries, Agencies, and Departments (MDAs) of government electronically, streamlining our review process and reducing paperwork.
Other benefits of the digitalized hearing room, he noted, included aiding engagements with stakeholders and the public in real-time, increasing transparency and public participation, as well as tracking and monitor the progress on recommendations and resolutions, ensuring accountability and proper follow-up, among others.
There were goodwill messages from the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein; the Auditor General for the Federation, Mr. Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira; the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, and the representative of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Miss Amah Iember among others.