Abbas: Tinubu to Push Executive Bills on Women, Disability Representation

By: Ganiyu Olayinka

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to submit executive bills to the National Assembly seeking dedicated legislative seats for women and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Abbas disclosed this while hosting the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, Prof. Justin Green, in Abuja. Green was accompanied by a delegation including the President/Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku; Secretary of Council, Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura; Council member Moji Makanjuola; and Secretary-General of the African Public Relations Association, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan.

The Speaker said the proposed legislation on women’s representation would create special seats in the National Assembly for women, separate from the seats contested in regular elections as part of the 10th House’s broader push to boost women’s participation and inclusion in lawmaking.

Abbas said the House had lobbied Tinubu to sponsor the bill and that the President had agreed. “It is coming anytime from now because it is a request that he has taken to the Ministry of Justice to fine-tune and represent,” he said.

He also disclosed separate efforts to secure special representation for persons with disabilities at both national and state levels, saying the President is expected to send a corresponding executive bill to the National Assembly within the coming weeks. “We also initiated and facilitated through Mr President to also for the very first time include representation of the physically challenged in the National Assembly and the states of our nation,” Abbas said. “This time around, again, we are hoping that within the next few weeks, Mr President will also bring an Executive Bill that will enable the physically challenged people to have a seat in both the national and subnational levels of our parliaments.”

Abbas described both initiatives as part of a series of innovations introduced by the 10th Assembly since it was inaugurated in June 2023. He also pointed to the National Assembly Open Week, an initiative that opens up the House’s legislative activities to public scrutiny and engagement, saying it has allowed Nigerians from various sectors to interact directly with lawmakers and committees and to observe legislative work, including motions and bills. He expressed hope that future National Assembly leadership would keep the initiative running to keep parliament accessible to citizens.

The Speaker congratulated Green and the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management on choosing Nigeria to host its global gathering, noting that the event is expected to draw participants from 126 countries offers a chance to showcase the country internationally. He commended Green for his years of work promoting Africa’s presence in the global public relations community and pledged the National Assembly’s support for the programmes planned in Nigeria.

Speaking earlier, Green praised Abbas for overseeing inclusive legislation and governance covering children, youth, women and other groups under the House leadership. He said he chose to speak candidly after reviewing the 10th House’s three-year scorecard under Abbas, remarking, “This didn’t just happen. This has been 10 years in the making.” Green also spoke of Nigerians abroad as ambassadors for the country, recalling a warm encounter with a Nigerian he met in Ireland, and said he was confident that when delegates from 126 countries arrive in Abuja, “they will receive something that they have never ever received before.”