Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas on Wednesday, assured Nigerian youths and other Stakeholders of the present administration’s commitment towards eradicating the endemic corruption, which he noted remains a significant obstacle to national development.
Hon. Abbas who disclosed this in Abuja during the townhall meeting with Youth groups and Organizations, also called for greater accountability at sub-national levels, which the recent autonomy granted to the local government at the grassroots level is expected to drive.
In a related development, Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson (APC-Lagos); Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo (APC-Ekiti), and Hon. Lanre Okunola (APC-Lagos) who spoke during separate media chats, urged Nigerians across the country to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration ongoing efforts to rejuvenate the troubled economy.
While acknowledging the concerns raised by various segments of the Citizens, Hon. Benson said: “I like peaceful protest, Dangote protested peacefully. Did he get the result? Yes. So, if we protest peacefully, Bola Tinubu has always expressed his love for peaceful protest. He was a chief protester at some point.
“But now, we have credible intelligence to show that some people would turn the good thing the youths want to do which is constitutional into something totally different. Some people want to riot and loot. We have seen that happen before. Even the president we are talking about, nobody has remembered that he has been a victim of riot.
“They burned down a TV station that had Journalists like you in them. Anything could have happen those people. They even tried to burnt down his Nation Newspaper. But nevertheless, he is still saying peaceful protest.”
On his part, Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo who associated with Nigerians amidst the socioeconomic challenges, urged Nigerians to be patient with the present administration as efforts are geared towards addressing issues of food security.
He said: “my appeal to the youths is to be patient with Mr. President and that Mr. President has a very laudable programme, especially for the youths. They should please exercise patience more and see what will come after this period because every war ends on the roundtable.
“So, we should not use anger and destructive tendencies to destroy our nascent democracy.”
In his address, Hon. Lanre Okunola said: “Mr. President is working assiduously to ensure that his renewed hope agenda that he has is an assured hope for each and every Nigerian. And in that line, I want to use this medium to appeal to our youths that they should be patient with each and everyone of us.
“We are working assiduously to ensure we make sure that this country is the best country in the world and provides that the basic need for the Citizens.”
While delivering his keynote address during the Townhall meeting, Hon. Abbas who acknowledged the role of youths in nation-building cannot be overstated, observed that: “It is crucial to be responsible, dutiful, and invested in self-development while shunning vices that have sadly become associated with Nigerians.”
According to him, the town hall meeting organized by the House leadership”is a platform for frank, respectful, and constructive engagement. It is important to be rebels with a cause rather than anarchists. You are responsible for proving your critics wrong by demonstrating a commitment to constructive engagement.”
Hon. Abbas who reiterated the 10th House readiness towards addressing pressing issues of urgent public importance, said: “You have raised your voices, calling for an end to hunger, a reduction in the cost of living, an improvement in the minimum wage, and enhanced human capital development. These demands, though varied, converge on a single, powerful call for a better quality of life for all Nigerians.
“Addressing you today is one of the most important functions I have undertaken as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. As a father, I am driven by a desire to leave a better Nigeria for my children and their children. It is also my dream for all of you. Our purpose today is not to intimidate, entice, buy off, or stifle your constitutionally enshrined powers of free expression. Rather, it is to create a formal avenue of regular engagement, ensuring that your voices are heard at the highest levels of government. My message to you today is that ‘your voice matters, and we are listening’.
“This government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, listens, understands, and is committed to transforming Nigeria into a country that works for young people. The President has demonstrated this commitment through significant interventions. For instance, he approved a substantial intervention fund of N683 billion for public tertiary institutions for the 2024 cycle, aimed at improving the quality of education. The establishment of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) through the Access to Higher Education Act, 2024, provides interest-free loans to students pursuing higher education and vocational training.
“Additionally, the President announced an ambitious plan to empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with a N125 billion infusion. Just this Monday, the President signed the new minimum wage bill into law, setting a national minimum wage of N70,000. Recall that the National Assembly passed that Bill in record time. You have also heard from some Honourable Ministers and Heads of Government Agencies on some of their programmes and projects geared towards the economic and social inclusion of Nigerian Youths. Your voice matters, and we are listening.
“The 10th Assembly, conscious of the issues faced by our youth from the onset, has outlined comprehensive legislative measures to address these challenges. Our legislative agenda focuses on economic revitalisation, social justice, governance reforms, and national security through robust legislative activity, inclusive public engagement, and comprehensive capacity-building initiatives.
“In the last year, we have also performed several oversight activities, including public hearings, interactive meetings, and attending to public petitions, amongst others. The 10th House also held sectoral retreats, sectoral briefings, the House Open Week, and the Budget Townhall meeting to meet the yearnings of Nigerians. Equally, the 10th House created two standing committees, namely Committees on Youth Development and Youths in Parliament, to effectively coordinate youth affairs and ensure the inclusion of young people in the legislative processes of the House.
“All these show that our legislative measures reflect a deep understanding of your unique needs and aspirations. Your voice matters, and we are listening.
“We are committed to advancing the rights and welfare of women and people living with disabilities. We recognise the significant challenges these groups face and have designed legislative measures to promote gender equality and ensure active and equal participation in political and decision-making processes. This includes the re-introduction of the Gender Equal Opportunities Bill and the full implementation of the Disability (Prohibition) Act.
“We are also dedicated to creating a framework for including people with disabilities in national planning, ensuring all public facilities and services are accessible.
“Let me assure you that the government is acutely aware of the issues raised by our youths and has been actively working on multiple fronts to address them. Several agricultural initiatives have been launched to combat hunger, boost local food production, and reduce import dependency.
“Recent measures by the President on import waivers for food are all part of a broader strategy to ensure that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry. Additionally, the government has invested in modern farming techniques and infrastructure to ensure farmers have the resources to increase yield and profitability. Your voice matters, and we are listening.
“Addressing economic hardship is a priority for this administration. We understand the economic challenges and are already implementing specific interventions. The removal of the fuel subsidy, while necessary to eliminate a corrupt and harmful scheme, has come with measures to cushion its effects. Several government intervention schemes are intended to provide urgent economic relief for Nigerians.
“The government is also implementing policies to stabilise the economy and control inflation. For example, subsidies on essential commodities have been adjusted to make them more accessible to the average Nigerian.
“The Federal Government has successfully reversed some negative economic indices (such as Ways and Means) and improved some critical positive ones (such as growth in agriculture, industries, etc) that underpin our economic prosperity.
“Additionally, efforts to diversify the economy, particularly through investments in technology, CNG programme, Distributed Renewable Energy access, and manufacturing, are aimed at creating jobs, reducing dependency on imported goods, and lowering living costs.
While reeling out the 10th Assembly’s first-year scorecard, he disclosed that 37 bills and 242 motions focused on social sector reform and development, including social welfare, healthcare, education, energy, infrastructure, and other essential services critical for societal well-being have so far been passed.
“On the matter of insecurity, which encompasses the protection of farmers, ending police brutality, and addressing broader security issues, we acknowledge the complexity and urgency of these challenges. The government has intensified efforts to secure rural areas by deploying additional security personnel, purchasing equipment, and establishing the National Livestock Transformation Plan to reduce farmer-herder conflicts.
“The government is also implementing several police reform initiatives to curb police brutality and restore public confidence. Recent statistics show a decline in violent crime rates in several regions, indicating that these measures are beginning to yield positive results. Data from the House also shows that improving national security emerged as the second-highest priority, with 129 motions (19%) dedicated to security. We also passed 12 security-related bills. Your voice matters, and we are listening.”
