…seeks continuity for President Tinubu, National Assembly members
By Mercy Gadia
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, on Friday urged the All Progressives Congress to address the persistent high turnover of lawmakers in the National Assembly, warning of its negative impact on governance and democratic stability.
Speaking at the party’s National Convention in Abuja, Abbas stressed that the legislature must remain an integral part of the current administration’s reform agenda, noting that it plays a critical role in overseeing government policies and programmes.
He described the reforms being implemented under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a long-term commitment requiring continuity.
“The reforms are not a sprint but a journey that requires continuity,” Abbas said. “This is why I say that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must continue this work beyond 2027. Not for sentiment. Not for convenience. But because the work has begun, it must be completed.”
The Speaker, however, cautioned that continuity should not be limited to the executive arm of government alone.
“As we commit to continuity at the executive level, we must also secure stability within the legislature,” he said. “The high turnover of Senators and Members over the years has come at a cost to governance, lawmaking, and public resources spent on constant training and retraining. Experience is lost. Institutional memory is weakened. Momentum is broken.”
He warned that frequent changes in legislative membership could hinder consistent progress, stressing the need to retain experienced lawmakers.
“We cannot continue to start every cycle afresh and expect consistent progress. The legislature is not separate from this journey; it is a partner in it,” he added.
Abbas, therefore, called for deliberate efforts by the party to support the return of performing legislators to sustain ongoing reforms and ensure effective collaboration between the executive and legislative arms.
On party unity, the Speaker described continuity as “the discipline of progress,” noting that Nigeria must avoid policy disruptions.
“We cannot change direction in the middle of the journey. We cannot abandon progress halfway. We cannot trade certainty for uncertainty,” he said.
He also highlighted the North-West geopolitical zone as a stronghold of the APC, attributing its cohesion to effective party structure and direction.
According to him, “What we have gained must be sustained. What we have built must be strengthened. What we have achieved must be expanded.”
Addressing members of the party’s National Working Committee, Abbas urged them to prioritise unity and manage internal dynamics effectively to prevent division within the party.
“There are those who expect us to fracture… That must not happen. It must be prevented through careful management, disciplined coordination, and constant engagement,” he said.
While acknowledging that the road ahead would require sacrifice and discipline, the Speaker expressed optimism that consistency and commitment would yield long-term benefits.
“History remembers those who stood firm and built for the future. Let us be remembered as that generation,” he added.