Speaker Abbas preaches love, tolerance as Muslims usher in new Islamic Year 1448 AH
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, GCON, has called on Muslims in Nigeria to demonstrate love and tolerance for one another as they mark the Islamic New Year 1448 After Hijra (AH).
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, marks the 1st Muharram, which is the first month in the Islamic calendar.
In a message of felicitation signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker urged the Muslim Ummah to rededicate themselves to the worship of Allah (SWT), adding that love and tolerance toward one another are integral parts of such worship as enjoined in the Holy Quran and the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
Speaker Abbas noted that the New Islamic Year 1448 (AH) should serve as an avenue for more prayers to the nation and its leaders, noting that our Creator answers genuine prayers from His servants.
He called for more peaceful coexistence among Muslims and the people of other faiths in the country, noting that nothing can be achieved in an atmosphere devoid of peace and unity.
The Speaker wished the Muslim Ummah happy celebrations of the New Islamic Year. He equally wished them and other Nigerians Allah’s blessings and protection in the New Year.
Nigeria’s security demands bold, fresh approach—Speaker Abbas …proposes legislative interventions to address crisis
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has called for fresh, bold ideas to tackle the security challenges facing Nigeria, noting that the current approach has not really worked.
Speaker Abbas, who proposes legislative interventions, said the solutions proffered will be part of the 10th National Assembly’s legacy.
The Speaker made this known on Monday while declaring open a public hearing on security-related bills convened by the House Committee on Defence, chaired by Hon. Babajimi Benson.
Speaker Abbas noted that it is against the backdrop of the current security realities that the 10th House has resolved to “strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks that govern our military.” He also stated that the hearing “is not a rubber stamp” but a platform for robust, evidence-based engagement.
The bills are: HB.1820 (Armed Forces Farms and Ranches Scheme) – linking national food security with military capacity, especially in conflict-prone agricultural zones; HB.1719 (Gender Representation in the Armed Forces) – recognising that no security force can be truly effective without harnessing the talents of all citizens, regardless of gender; HB.1949 (Repeal of Armed Forces Act and Enactment of Nigerian Military Force Bill) – a comprehensive overhaul of military administration for modern threats; and HB.1950 (Veterans’ Federation of Nigeria Bill) – ensuring that those who have bled for us do not suffer in silence after service.
Others are on military education, doctrine, and medical services.
While emphasising that the bills are not mere legislative exercises, he said they are “a direct response to the evolving security threats facing our beloved nation and the imperative to build a more resilient, inclusive, and effective military institution.”
He stressed that this is a core component of our Legislative Agenda in the 10th Assembly.
Speaker Abbas said, “Let me state clearly: the security challenges we face today demand bold, fresh thinking. The old ways have not fully worked. We must be open to legislative innovations.
“I therefore call on all stakeholders—serving and retired military personnel, civil society, gender experts, veterans, lawyers, and ordinary citizens—to participate actively. Share your memoranda, speak your truth, critique where necessary, and propose solutions.
“Do not hold back because you think your voice does not matter. It does. Do not stay away because you fear your submission will be ignored. I give you my word—every memorandum will be read, every oral presentation will be noted, and all relevant contributions will be considered and, where applicable, incorporated into the final reports and bills. This is our legacy as the People’s Assembly.”
Assuring the stakeholders that the Committee on Defence would conduct the exercise with utmost transparency and fairness, the Speaker stated, “We are not here to defend any interest or hidden agenda. We are here to serve the Nigerian people and to produce legislation that will make our Armed Forces more professional, more accountable, more gender-sensitive, and more effective in protecting lives and property.”
In a welcome remark, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Benson, said the bills would address several critical aspects of national defence, including military education and professional development, joint operational effectiveness, medical training and healthcare support, strategic research and doctrine development, veterans’ welfare, military governance reforms, food security initiatives, and greater inclusiveness within the Armed Forces.
“Collectively, these proposals represent an important effort to build a stronger, more professional, innovative, and future-ready military institution,” he said, adding that “as security threats continue to evolve—from terrorism and insurgency to cyber threats and transnational crime—our legal and institutional frameworks must also evolve to meet contemporary realities.”
“I therefore encourage all stakeholders present to participate actively and constructively in these deliberations. Whether through oral presentations or written memoranda, your contributions will help ensure that these bills are strengthened and refined in the national interest. I assure you that every submission received will be carefully considered by the committee.”
Speaker Abbas felicitates General Abdulsalam on 84th birthday
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, GCON, has rejoiced with a former head of state, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, on his 84th birthday.
Speaker Abbas, in a congratulatory message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, in Abuja on Sunday, described General Abdulsalam as a hero and patriot who ensured a smooth transition to civil rule in 1999.
Recalling General Abdulsalam’s days as a military head of state, Speaker Abbas noted that immediately after he took over in June 1998 following the demise of ex-military leader, General Sani Abacha, he kick-started the process that saw Nigeria enjoy democracy for 27 unbroken years.
Even in retirement, the Speaker noted, General Abdulsalam has continued to serve Nigeria diligently with uncommon patriotism, emerging as a statesman and a shining light in the country.
The Speaker wished General Abdulsalam continuous sound health and protection from the Almighty Allah.
Speaker Abbas leads House delegation to Hon. Yaya Tongo’s funeral prayer
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, GCON, on Saturday, led a delegation of the House to the funeral prayers of late Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo, who passed away on Friday evening.
The funeral prayer, held at the Tongo Primary School in Funakaye Local Government of Gombe State, was led by the Chief Imam of Funakaye, Malam Abubakar Shahra-Mansur Bajoga.
On the delegation were the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo; Chairman Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi; Minority Whip, Hon. Mansur Manu Soro; former Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa JC; Chairman Committee on North East Development Commission, Hon. Usman Zanna; Chairman Committee on Police Institutions, Hon. Aliyu Wakili Boya, and the Chairman Committee on Pensions, Hon. Hussaini Jalo.
Others were the Chairman Committee on Science and Engineering, Hon. Inuwa Garba; Deputy Chairman Committee on Works, Hon. Usman Banye; Deputy Chairman Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), Hon. Sagir Ibrahim Koki; and the Deputy Chairman Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Yakubu Adamu Danmaliki; Deputy Chairman Committee on Public Service Matters, Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri; Deputy Chairman Committee on NDDC, Hon. Jafaru Gambo Leko; Deputy Chairman Committee on TETFund, Hon. Bappa Aliyu Misau; Hon. Bashir Zubairu; Hon. Sani Yakubu Noma, among others.
After the funeral rites, Speaker Abbas led members of the delegation on a condolence visit to the family of the late lawmaker, where special prayers were offered for the repose of his soul.
The late Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo represented Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State. He was the Chairman of the House Parliamentary Friendship Group with the United Arab Emirates.
Earlier on Saturday, Speaker Abbas, in a condolence message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, described the late Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo as a committed lawmaker who represented his constituents with zeal and served the country with patriotism.
Speaker Abbas expresses sadness over demise of Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, GCON, has expressed profound sadness over the passing of a member of the House, Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo, describing his demise as shocking.
The lawmaker, who represented the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, passed away on Friday evening in Abuja after a brief illness, six days before his 63rd birthday. He was the Chairman of the House Parliamentary Friendship Group with the United Arab Emirates.
Speaker Abbas, in a condolence message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, on Saturday, described the late Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo as a committed lawmaker who represented his constituents with zeal and served the country with patriotism.
The Speaker recalled Hon. Yaya Tongo’s invaluable contributions to deliberations on the floor of the House, noting that his passing has created a vacuum.
Speaker Abbas noted that though it is painful to lose a colleague of Hon. Tongo’s standing, the House finds solace in the fact that he lived a life worthy of emulation.
The Speaker extends heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Gombe State, particularly the people of Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency.
He prayed to Allah (SWT) to have mercy on the soul of the late lawmaker, forgive his mistakes, and grant him Jannatul Firdaus.
Our democracy has come to stay, says Speaker Abbas
…gifts 1,000 teachers motorcycles in Zaria …settles 17.5m bills for 21 inmates
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, GCON, has said that Nigeria’s democracy has come to stay after 27 unbroken years of practising civil rule, noting that the country has gained a lot since 1999.
The Speaker, who joined other well-meaning Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to congratulate the citizens on this year’s Democracy Day, said, “Nigeria will never again be governed by decree. Nigeria will be governed by consent.”
He spoke on Friday in Zaria at the Phase 5 of his empowerment programme where he distributed 1,000 motorcycles to primary and secondary school teachers in Zaria Federal Constituency in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day.
He said he prioritised the welfare and well-being of teachers “because everything I am began in a classroom, and no nation rises above the quality of its teachers. Let these motorcycles carry you to school. But let them also carry a message: that democracy can touch ordinary lives, in practical ways, right here at home. Teach our children honesty, hard work, and love of country. Teach them what June 12 means.”
This is even as the Speaker settled the bills for 21 inmates to the tune of 17.5 million naira at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Zaria, for them to regain their freedom.
The freed inmates, who were full of appreciation to the Speaker for coming to their rescue, hailed from different parts of Kaduna State. Their jail term ranged from 7 months to five years.
Speaker Abbas also paid glowing tributes to Nigeria’s heroes of democracy, saying their efforts and sacrifices did not go in vain.
He said, “But democracy did not fall from the sky. It was paid for in blood, in tears, in exile, and in detention. We remember Chief MKO Abiola, whose mandate of June 12, 1993, was stolen, and who died in custody rather than surrender it. We remember Kudirat Abiola. And we remember our own. General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a son of the North, who died in prison because he demanded a return to civil rule.
“Malam Aminu Kano, who spent his life insisting that the talakawa must have a voice in how they are governed. Our own Alhaji Balarabe Musa from Kaduna State, who spoke truth to power until his final breath. And here in Zaria, the late Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman of Ahmadu Bello University, who taught generations that citizens must question their rulers. June 12 is their day. We stand on their shoulders.”
He said Nigerians continue to keep faith in democracy despite its challenges because it is “the only system that allows a nation to correct its mistakes without bloodshed. It gives the farmer in Kwarbai the same single vote as the billionaire in Lagos. It allows you to question me, your Speaker. It allows you to question all your other leaders.”
He said what happened in some African countries, such as Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon, where the military dislodged constitutionally recognized democratic governments, cannot happen in Nigeria, “because we have chosen to be vigilant. Nigeria will never again be governed by decree. Nigeria will be governed by consent.”
Noting that consent must be earned with results, Speaker Abbas said President Bola perfectly understands the situation, which is why he took bold decisions in his assumption of office.
“Let us be honest. He (President Tinubu) inherited subsidy distortions, exchange-rate chaos, collapsing revenues, and an economy on the brink of failure. The easy option was to keep postponing reality. He refused. And the numbers now speak. Inflation peaked at 34.8 per cent in December 2024. By April this year, it had fallen to 15.69 per cent. GDP growth rose from 2.74 per cent in 2023 to 3.87 per cent in 2025, and global institutions project growth of 4.4 per cent in 2026.
“Our gross external reserves crossed 50 billion dollars in February, the highest in 13 years, up from net reserves of barely 4 billion dollars at the end of 2023. Government revenues more than doubled, from 17.08 trillion Naira in 2023 to 37.44 trillion Naira in 2025, with money now flowing to roads, schools, hospitals, and salaries across all three tiers. Capital inflows jumped from 654 million dollars in late 2023 to 5.6 billion dollars by early 2025.
“Through the Student Loan Fund, over 1.3 million young Nigerians have received more than 242 billion Naira across 280 tertiary institutions. Right here, Ahmadu Bello University alone received over 1 billion Naira for 17,599 students.
“The number of primary healthcare centres is being doubled from 9,000 to 18,000 by next year. Defence spending has risen from 2.98 trillion Naira to 4.91 trillion Naira, and the road from Abuja through Kaduna to Kano, once a corridor of fear, is being rebuilt while the trains run again.”
For all the laudable programmes, interventions, initiatives, and good governance, the Speaker said President Tinubu deserves another term, noting, “That is why, as 2027 approaches, I say without hesitation: this is not the time to change course. Renewed Hope is working. The evidence is on the table. Let us finish the job.”
Turning to the legislature, Speaker Abbas said in the 27 years of Nigeria’s democracy, the National Assembly has risen to the occasion and opposed a proposed third term in 2006; came up with the Doctrine of Necessity in 2010 to address a looming constitutional crisis; enacted the Freedom of Information Act; created the anticorruption agencies; lowered the age for seeking office so the young could run; passed the Petroleum Industry Act after two decades of failure; and introduced technology that made votes harder to steal and easier to count in the Electoral Acts of 2022 and 2026.
“The Tenth Assembly is building on that inheritance with the most ambitious constitutional review in our history. Twelve public hearings across all six geopolitical zones. From 260 alteration bills, a first batch of 37 has now been prioritised. And each answers a problem you live with.
He listed some recent gains of the 10th Assembly to include the passage of the State Police Bill on Thursday, the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission, independent candidacy, freedom for state electoral commissions, local government autonomy, among others.
Don’t heat up the polity, Speaker tells politicians
Speaker Abbas also cautioned politicians to be more patriotic and put Nigeria’s interests above personal interests as the 2027 elections draw near, noting that “politics is not war” and “the opponent is not the enemy.”
“I call on all of us to campaign with facts, not fear. With ideas, not insults. Do not inflame religion. Do not weaponise ethnicity. Do not set fire to the house we all must live in simply to rule its ashes. The politician who destabilises Nigeria to win power will inherit nothing worth governing. History is watching, and so are our children. Let 2027 be remembered as the election in which Nigeria’s political class chose the country over self.
“And to you, young Nigerians, my message is direct. I know your frustrations are real. But this country is yours, and it is worth fighting for with your PVC, not your despair. Do not surrender the future to cynicism. Register. Vote. Run for office. Build businesses. Question us. Hold us to account. The same democracy that let a schoolteacher’s son become Speaker is open to every one of you. Hope is not naive. Hope, backed by work, is the most radical force in any nation.”
Speaker Abbas seeks Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s support on state police, gender bills
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has called for technical support from a German group, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) as the National Assembly considers bills to create state police and reserved legislative seats for women in the Nigerian Parliament.
KAS is a German political foundation affiliated with, but independent of, the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with a presence in about 100 countries across the globe, including Africa.
While hosting KAS’s newly posted Resident Representative to Nigeria, Moritz Sprenker, in Abuja on Monday, Speaker Abbas acknowledged the “long-standing” partnership between the House and the organization, particularly on strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and legislative capacities.
He recalled how KAS hosted members of the security-related committees of the House in Germany about two years ago.
The Speaker said, “Let me also use this opportunity to seek further support and continued partnerships. We need interventions that can sustain our democracy and improve the performance of our legislative responsibilities.
“We would love to see KAS taking more interests this time around—besides the security-related areas where you have done well—in the area of the state police that the administration (of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR) and the National Assembly are working on.”
He added, “Again, we have another area where we feel KAS can also give a lot of support, and that is the reserved seats for women. If you take a look at the position of Nigeria in terms of women’s representation in the legislature, you will find out that we are like the fourth from the bottom.
“We are supposed to be at the forefront. Unfortunately and sadly, we have not been able to get to where we need to be. But we believe with cooperation and partnership, through sensitisation, we will go a long way in convincing the ‘Doubting Thomases’ that the future of Nigeria cannot be secured or guaranteed without women being a part of it.”
The National Assembly, as part of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, is considering bills to decentralise the current unitary structure of the Nigeria Police Force and create state police, as well as the creation of special seats for women in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.
While the Speaker welcomed Sprenker to the ‘People’s House,’ he described his predecessor, Marija Peran, as “a wonderful person.” He said, “Through her, we had a lot of mutually beneficial interactions with the House of Representatives.”
Earlier, Sprenker said he resumed in Nigeria in April, and the visit to Speaker Abbas was part of his consultations with relevant stakeholders in his host country.
The KAS Resident Representative, who noted that “Nigeria has been very nice to me so far,” said he has been doing an overview of his organisation’s programmes and partners in Nigeria.
Sprenker noted that KAS works closely with various political stakeholders, including civil society organisations (CSOs), political parties, parliaments, among others, to facilitate trainings and build capacity.
“For us, it is important that we do not come with ready-made solutions. We regard ourselves as facilitators,” he said.
Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson; Chairman, House Committee on Services, Hon. Amos Daniel; and the Chairman, House Committee on North West Development Commission, Hon. (Dr.) Suleiman Abubakar Gumi, were also at the meeting.
Speaker Abbas congratulates Tinubu on 3rd anniversary
…gives reasons why the President deserves another term
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the third anniversary of his administration, saying the government is delivering on its Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaker Abbas, in a congratulatory message, noted that Tinubu’s government’s reforms have long-term positive impacts on Nigeria and the people beyond the administration, calling on Nigerians to be patient in their assessment.
The Speaker said, “President Tinubu inherited a country on life support. A country on crutches. A country bedeviled by subsidy distortions, exchange rate instability, declining revenues, weakened investor confidence, oil theft, worsening insecurity, and an economy weighed down by years of postponed decisions.
The politically convenient option would have been to continue postponing reality, Speaker Abbas noted, saying, “But President Tinubu chose reform. He chose reconstruction. He chose long-term national stability over temporary political comfort. And today, Nigerians can see the results of those bold decisions across the country.”
In specific terms, he said Nigeria’s economy under Tinubu has transitioned from fragility to recovery. “GDP growth improved from 2.74 per cent in 2023 to 3.87 per cent in 2025, while major global institutions project 4.4 per cent growth in 2026. Net external reserves improved from about $4 billion in 2023 to over $34 billion by the end of 2025, with gross reserves now above $50 billion, the highest in 13 years.”
The Speaker noted further that in public finance, the federation revenues have expanded dramatically under Tinubu’s reforms, with total FAAC allocations rising from about ₦10.9 trillion in 2023 to ₦15.26 trillion in 2024, representing a 43 per cent increase driven by subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms, and improved revenue generation.
“By 2025, cumulative allocations had crossed ₦22 trillion, with several months exceeding the historic ₦2 trillion mark for the first time in Nigeria’s history. In 2026 alone, the first two months already recorded about ₦3.86 trillion in allocations, representing a further 14.2 per cent increase over the same period in 2025.”
In terms of investment, Speaker Abbas pointed out that capital inflows rose sharply from just US$654.65 million in the third quarter of 2023 to US$5.642 billion by the first quarter of 2025, which means more factories, businesses, jobs, and greater opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Next is infrastructural development, where major road, rail, port, and energy projects are advancing nationwide. He cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway, and rail modernisation projects that are now opening new economic corridors across the country.
The Speaker stated that President Tinubu’s unprecedented resolve in tackling insecurity in the country led to Nigeria’s defence and security allocation to rise from about ₦2.98 trillion in 2023 to over ₦4.91 trillion in the 2026 budget, the highest in the nation’s history.
“Operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, and organised crime have intensified nationwide. Recent joint Nigeria-United States operations eliminated Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIL’s second-in-command, alongside several terrorist leaders.”
The oil and gas sector under Tinubu also witnessed drastic improvements, as Nigeria’s crude oil output, which averaged about 1.44 million barrels per day in 2023, has rebounded to between 1.75 and 1.84 million barrels per day, driven by stronger pipeline surveillance, improved security coordination, and regulatory reforms.
Education and human capital development have also witnessed a boost under the Tinubu administration, with over 1.3 million Nigerian students benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as disbursements already exceeded ₦242 billion across more than 280 tertiary institutions nationwide.
In manufacturing and industrial development, reforms in taxation, energy, gas infrastructure, and industrial policy are improving the environment for local production and industrial expansion, while housing and urban development saw the building of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, targeting 100,000 housing units nationwide across the geopolitical zones and the FCT, he added.
In the digital economy and services sector, the Speaker stated that Nigeria’s ICT sector remains one of the strongest drivers of growth, creating opportunities in technology, innovation, financial services, entertainment, and entrepreneurship.
While noting that there are still socio-economic and security challenges, the Speaker stated that the current administration is determined and committed to addressing them with strategies and long-term solutions.
He said it is strategically expedient for Nigerians to renew President Tinubu’s mandate in 2027 to enable the completion of the policies, programmes, and projects of his administration.
Speaker Abbas restated the readiness of the 10th House to collaborate with the Executive arm of the government towards ensuring the welfare of Nigerians and the safety of lives and property. He assured of continuous timely consideration and passage of legislation that will directly benefit and impact the lives of the people.
Just as with the National Assembly, Speaker Abbas called for more collaboration between the Federal Government and the subnational governments—state and local governments—for the common good of the people.
The Speaker called on Nigerians to place nationhood and patriotism over partisanship and ethno-religious and political considerations. He urged them to continue to support the government, which is a continuum, regardless of the occupants of public offices.
Eid-el-Kabir: Speaker Abbas greets Muslims, calls for special prayers
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has congratulated Muslims in Nigeria as they celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, urging them to renew their faith in Allah (SWT) and the country.
While wishing Muslims happy celebrations, the Speaker called for renewed charity to one another, especially the poor, the needy, and the less privileged in the society. This, he noted, is a major tenet of Islam.
In his Sallah message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Speaker Abbas noted the significance of the celebration, saying it symbolises total submission to the will of Allah (SWT) as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim (AS).
The Speaker said there are several lessons to learn from the life of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), including faith in Allah (SWT) and submission and obedience to constituted authorities, noting, “This period calls for a deep reflection.”
Speaker Abbas urged Nigerians to remain selfless and sacrifice their lives, time, and resources to the worship of Allah (SWT) and humanity.
As the country approaches the general elections next year, the Speaker called for special prayers for peaceful polls. He equally urged Nigerians to pray for the country, the government at all levels, unity, prosperity, and political stability.
