With its annual recess finally over, the House of Representatives will resume plenary activities on Tuesday as it commences the second session.
TheHintsNews reports that before going on recess, the House presented its Performance Report for the First Session between June 13, 2023 – June 13, 2024.
However, during the period under review, the Green chamber passed 679 motions, 89 bills; while 306 petitions were received from distressed Nigerians during the first session.
Checks revealed that the members of the Green Chamber conducted oversight visits to 107 MDAs, averaging 0.9 visits per committee as of June 13, 2024.
TheHintsNews reports that members of the House Committee on Rules and Business recently held a retreat focused on revalidating legislative manuals to ensure high-quality output from the House, saying this was crucial for refining its processes.
Against this background, the House has resolved to priotise and fast-track bills and motions that align with its commitments in the legislative agenda. This, it said, would serve as indicators by which Nigerians assess the 10th Assembly at the upcoming midterm in June 2025.
Nevertheless, with the 2024 fiscal year coming to a close, the agreement Chamber said it anticipates receiving the 2025 Appropriation Bill soon, while also prioritising constitution review, and electoral reform as plenary resumes today.
The Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi in a statement issued Monday revealed that the House would inaugurate the board of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC).
According to him, It is also expected to inaugurate the Joint Senate/House Ad Hoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Investigation, which aims to address challenges in the oil and gas sector.
Rotimi pointed out that major areas of legislative focus would be on the 2025 Budget proposal, electoral reform, constitution review, among others.
He noted: “With the 2024 fiscal year coming to a close, the House eagerly anticipates receiving the 2025 Appropriation Bill soon.
“Timely submission from the Executive is crucial, as it facilitates thorough scrutiny and public input through Town Hall meetings, a practice pioneered by the House during the 2024 Budget review.”
The spokesman emphasised that the House was firmly committed to maintaining the January – December budget cycle and anticipates cooperation from the Executive in this regard.
Rotimi said the constitutional review process serves as the bedrock of our democracy, embodying the collective aspirations for a just society.
He noted that the House reaffirmed the December 2025 deadline to arrive at definitive outcomes for the Sixth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The spokesperson assured that the House Committee on Constitution Review chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, would intensify efforts to address pressing issues and align the laws with the needs of the public.
He said the House has received about 305 memoranda from the public and about 150 Constitution Alteration Bills from members, reflecting significant public engagement and concern.
Rotimi said these bills would be given accelerated consideration.
He further said that the 10th House would prioritise amending the Electoral Act 2022 to address gaps, including vague and contradictory provisions.
Rotimi stated: “In line with our agenda, we are also committed to establishing a mechanism for periodic reviews of electoral laws to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with global best practices.
“Notably, groundwork for this process has already begun with a Citizen Town Hall on electoral reforms held by the House Committee on Electoral Matters in November 2023. As we resume, the House will build on these ongoing efforts to strengthen our electoral framework.”
Rotimi stressed that in light of the landmark Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 on Local Government autonomy, the House anticipate bills aimed at ensuring the consequential alignment of various extant laws with this new reality.
He said: “The 10th Assembly proposed several reforms for Nigeria’s local government councils, including constitutional changes to grant them financial and operational independence.
“This shift is essential for clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of local governments and preventing overlaps and conflicts.
“Further reforms will address electoral processes within local councils and clarify their roles in maintaining security at the grassroots level. These initiatives are crucial for empowering local governments and ensuring they effectively serve their communities.”
Rotimi said in consideration of recent policy statements from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, the House anticipates an executive bill concerning Whistleblower Protection.
He added that efforts in this area promised to significantly boost the fight against corruption and improve Nigeria’s revenue streams.