?The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., has issued a passionate call to action for Nigerians, urging citizens to move past sideline skepticism and actively participate in the legislative process.

Speaking on Tuesday at the grand opening of the NASS Open Week 2026 which coincided with the presentation of the 10th House’s Third-Year Scorecard Speaker Abbas emphasized that a healthy democracy requires hands-on citizenship rather than distant observation.

?Addressing the public directly, Speaker Abbas urged Nigerians to intimately acquaint themselves with how laws are crafted before passing judgment.

He extended an open invitation for deeper civic engagement, emphasizing that the parliament takes public input seriously when amending laws.

?"My appeal to the citizen who observes us today is therefore a simple one: draw closer. Acquaint yourself with the true workings of your parliament. Read a bill before you pass judgment upon it. Submit your memoranda when we call for them."

?The Speaker underscored that while the parliament welcomes constructive criticism, it must be informed. To bridge this gap, the three-day event, themed ‘Three Years of the 10th Assembly:

Advancing Transparency, Inclusion, and Reform,’ has been designed as an interactive national dialogue. It specifically carves out space for youth and civic groups to tackle the scourge of disinformation and lay claim to their voice ahead of the 2027 elections.

?According to the newly released performance review, the 10th Assembly has registered unprecedented legislative productivity, processing more bills than any other Assembly since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999.

Over the last three years, the House considered 2,747 bills, ultimately passing 363, with 72 already receiving presidential assent to become law. Additionally, the House has resolved hundreds of public petitions out of over 800 submitted by citizens.

?Among the standout legislation already impacting lives are the landmark Student Loan Act, which provides interest-free financing for higher education, major revenue-sharing reforms, and the creation of regional development commissions.

The Speaker noted that these statistics are not mere lines on a page but represent measurable, lasting change aimed at bringing dignity and opportunity to every Nigerian child, regardless of privilege.

?Addressing critical national security challenges, Speaker Abbas highlighted that the current security climate demands structural evolution. Referencing the recent successful rescue of kidnapped students and teachers in Oyo State by security forces, he argued that a nation of Nigeria's scale cannot be policed in perpetuity from a single centralized command in Abuja.

?In a major legislative update, the Speaker announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a robust, comprehensive Executive version of the State Police Bill to the National Assembly.

This new bill is the product of a dedicated committee chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Speaker Abbas announced that the House will withdraw its earlier version of the State Police Bill to accord this new Executive version the expedited consideration that a matter of such urgency deserves.

?The opening ceremony of the Open Week, which was officially declared open by the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, drew an array of key figures. High-profile attendees included the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Health, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate; and former Speakers Aminu Bello Masari, Patricia Etteh, and Yakubu Dogara, alongside traditional and international leaders like the Emir of Zazzau, HRH Amb. Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, British High Commissioner Richard Montgomery, and EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot.

?The Speaker extended deep appreciation to international and domestic technical partners—including YIAGA Africa, the European Union, the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), and the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF)—for their steadfast commitment to strengthening Nigeria's democratic institutions.

He concluded by reiterating that the National Assembly remains a true partner to the Executive and the Nigerian people in the shared mission of national reform.