Nigeria Needs You Now, Reps Speaker Charges Ex-state Assemblies’ Presiding Officers
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called on former speakers and deputy speakers of state Houses of Assembly to bring their experience to bear as Nigeria approaches another general election in 2027.
Speaker Abbas stated that former presiding officers of state legislatures have a critical role to play in the governance and administration of the country.
The Speaker made this known in his address titled ‘The Mandate Beyond Office: Experience, Public Trust, and Responsible Leadership,’ delivered at the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly, Kaduna State Chapter, in Kaduna State on Friday.
“The gavel may leave your hand when your tenure ends, but the duty of leadership does not end with office. For former presiding officers, experience carries a continuing responsibility. You understand how laws are made, how budgets are negotiated, and how public decisions move from intention to implementation. That knowledge must continue to serve society.
“Where there is confusion, we must bring clarity. Where anger has overtaken reason, we must restore judgement. Where public debate has departed from evidence, we must speak with courage and candour,” he said.
Speaker Abbas noted that the knowledge gathered spans legislative leadership, public administration, and community engagement, stating that “Kaduna State and Nigeria should continue to benefit from it.”
He said, “As Speaker of the House of Representatives, I have learned that every public decision must pass two tests. The first is the test of policy. Is the decision necessary, lawful, and properly funded? The second is the test of experience. Does it improve life in homes, farms, workshops, and markets?
“The first explains what government intends to achieve. The second shows whether that intention has reached the people. Responsible leadership must answer both.
“This duty becomes even more important during economic difficulty. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited structural problems that Nigeria had postponed for many years. He chose to confront them rather than conceal them.”
While pointing out that some of those decisions have imposed real pressure on families, the Speaker stated that Nigerians must acknowledge the fact that food, transport, and other daily needs have become more expensive.
“Nigerians have made sacrifices, and their patience deserves our respect. But honesty requires the complete account.
“The old system consumed vast resources without producing lasting stability. It rewarded waste, weakened investment, and passed an ever-larger burden to the next generation. President Tinubu chose reform over retreat and responsibility over postponement.
“The early gains are becoming visible. Public revenues have improved. States now receive greater resources to pay salaries and pensions, implement the minimum wage, and invest in roads, schools, and healthcare. Domestic refining is expanding. Foreign exchange management is becoming more orderly. Student loans are helping young Nigerians remain in school,” he said.
Speaker Abbas also stated that the work is not complete, but the direction is clear. “Our responsibility is to explain what changed, why it changed, and what the reforms are expected to deliver. We must also ensure that the gains reach ordinary Nigerians more quickly,” he said.
Stressing that “former presiding officers have an important role in this effort,” the Speaker noted that they have standing in their respective communities.
He said, “People listen when you speak. Use that influence to present the facts, correct falsehoods, and explain difficult decisions in language citizens understand. Where the government has performed, say so firmly and support the claim with evidence. Name the project. State its location. Identify the beneficiaries. Explain its condition.
“Our task is not simply to defend the government. It is to help the government succeed. As members and leaders of the All Progressives Congress, we also have a political duty. We must take the record of President Tinubu’s administration to the people. We must explain the reforms without diminishing or dismissing the difficulties they face.
“A credible campaign does not deny hardship. It shows the road out of it. We must distinguish deliberate falsehood from genuine misunderstanding. Some political actors knowingly spread false claims because anger is their only programme. Others raise legitimate questions because official explanations have been late, incomplete, or too technical. A fabricated claim deserves a firm correction. A sincere concern deserves a clear answer.”
The Speaker said as the 2027 elections approach, political language will become sharper. “Claims will multiply. Achievements will be denied. Failures will be exaggerated. Old ambitions will return in new colours,” he said.
Speaker Abbas stated that “We must not allow competition for office to become a contest in national destruction,” stressing that “no election is worth dividing Kaduna. No election is worth dividing Nigeria. No campaign is worth setting faith against faith, region against region, or neighbour against neighbour. Those who heat the polity may win temporary attention, but the fire they start can consume everyone.”
He added, “We must campaign with confidence, not contempt. We must answer propaganda with proof, provocation with restraint, and division with a clear national purpose. Citizens deserve enough reliable information to compare records and proposals. Anyone seeking office should explain how promises will be funded, which institutions will deliver them, and how the public can measure the results.”
Stating that Nigeria has heard enough promises without plans and pledges without price tags, Speaker Abbas said for serving legislators, communication must move in both directions. “We must explain government decisions to the people, but we must also carry their experiences back into Parliament,” he stated.
The Speaker therefore proposed that the forum establish a public information and feedback initiative. “Working with researchers, members can prepare verified explanations of major programmes, document recurring concerns, and refer implementation failures to the proper authorities,” he said.
The Speaker noted that its influence must rest on credible evidence, while its integrity must be shown through prompt correction whenever an error occurs.
He added, “The Forum should also mentor younger legislators. Teach them negotiation, scrutiny, and constituency service. Remind them that leadership requires more than commanding attention. It requires listening carefully.”