Abuja, April 2025 — Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has pushed back against widespread beliefs that Nigeria’s legislature is overfunded, stating instead that the National Assembly is the most underfunded arm of government.
Speaking through Hon. Amadi Victor Obuzor, at the unveiling of three new legislative digital platforms developed by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Abbas emphasized that independent assessments have confirmed the chronic underfunding of the legislature — despite public narratives to the contrary.
“Many Nigerians erroneously believe that the National Assembly is overfunded. Sadly, the National Assembly is the most underfunded arm of the government,” Abbas said at the Abuja event, which was supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Digital Innovation for Legislative Transparency
The event marked the official launch of:
- PLAC Bills Track
- Legislative Agenda Tracker
- Legislative Repository
These platforms are designed to enhance transparency, oversight, and public engagement by allowing citizens and stakeholders to track the progress of bills, access full legislative texts, and explore data visualizations and analyses of National Assembly activities.
PLAC’s Deputy Executive Director, Omolara Akinyeye, said the tools would help bridge the gap between legislators and the people they serve, empowering users to follow legislation more easily and hold their representatives accountable.
PLAC’s Executive Director, Clement Nwankwo, underlined the importance of the legislature maintaining its role in oversight and accountability, even amid pressures from constituents and political demands.
“These platforms are important… to share information on the different aspects of what we are doing,” Nwankwo noted, adding that civic education and public access to legislative processes are crucial for democratic sustainability.
A Step Toward Changing Public Perception
Abbas expressed optimism that increased digital access to legislative activities would gradually shift public perception and reveal the complexities of legislative work — which often goes underappreciated compared to the more visible executive arm.
As Nigeria faces growing calls for political transparency, these platforms could offer a much-needed boost to citizen participation and institutional trust in a government often criticized for opacity.