Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has identified unrelenting personal and communal pleas from constituents as one of the major sources of pressure confronting federal lawmakers in Nigeria.
Delivering a lecture titled “Legislating Under Pressure: The Realities of Lawmaking in Nigeria” at the 5th Public Lecture Series of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), the Speaker said lawmakers are often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of personal demands ranging from school fees and hospital bills to wedding support, job placements, and funeral contributions.
“These expectations are not merely cultural; they reflect the real gaps in Nigeria’s social welfare and local governance systems,” he noted. “This has turned elected lawmakers into de facto development agents and first responders to distress.”
Speaker Abbas explained that to address this representational burden, the National Assembly has evolved its constituency offices from informal setups into structured outposts of parliamentary representation across the 360 federal constituencies and 109 senatorial districts.
He added that guidelines and manuals have since been developed to professionalize outreach, staffing, documentation, and service delivery.
He also highlighted the evolution of constituency projects, now known as Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs), which provide a mechanism for lawmakers to attract federal interventions to their communities.
On media relations, Abbas said legislators face immense pressure from the press, including sensational headlines, misinformation, and negative narratives. “Statements like ‘the National Assembly is just a rubber stamp’ or ‘lawmakers are only interested in allowances’ often overshadow the real work done,” he lamented.
According to the Speaker, the 10th House of Representatives has responded to these challenges by adopting proactive media engagement strategies and instituting key reforms aimed at improving legislative transparency, budget oversight, and public engagement.
He further listed other pressure points including weak legislative institutions, political party interference, balancing national responsibilities with constituency expectations, and maintaining legislative independence under executive pressure.
“The 10th House has acted with purpose,” he said. “Through significant legislation, institutional reforms, and people-focused initiatives, we are gradually transforming the National Assembly into a more proactive and responsive institution.
These efforts may not be perfect, but they signal a shift toward innovation and public-centered service.”
In her remarks, Professor Sa’adatu Liman, Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, appreciated Speaker Abbas for honouring the university’s invitation and described the topic of his lecture as timely and relevant in Nigeria’s evolving democratic experience.
She urged participants and students to pay close attention to the insights shared, as they reflect the realities and complex dynamics of governance in the country.
