The 10th National Assembly of Nigeria was inaugurated on June 13, 2023, with Senator Godswill Akpabio emerging as the Senate President and Senator Jibrin Barau as Deputy Senate President. On the same day, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., was elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives, alongside Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu as Deputy Speaker. The bicameral legislature comprises 109 Senators and 360 Members of the House of Representatives.
The 2023 general elections ushered in a diverse National Assembly with seven political parties represented in the Senate: the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 59 seats, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 36, Labour Party (LP) 8, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 2, Social Democratic Party (SDP) 2, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) 1, and Young Progressives Party (YPP) 1. In terms of gender distribution, 106 men were elected to the Senate, while only three women secured seats.
In the House of Representatives, eight political parties gained representation. The APC won 180 seats, PDP 116, LP 35, NNPP 19, APGA 5, SDP 2, African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2, and YPP 1. Of the 360 seats, 346 were won by men, while 14 were claimed by women, highlighting the continued underrepresentation of women in legislative politics.
Two years into the tenure of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, his leadership style has been praised by colleagues for its inclusiveness, consultation, and conflict resolution. In one instance, a potentially divisive piece of legislation nearly disrupted House proceedings, but Speaker Abbas was credited with managing the situation through patience, wisdom, and strategic consultations. According to a lawmaker, “Really, I have to commend Mr. Speaker because it was one piece of legislation that was ready to scatter and cause chaos and disharmony in the House. But his acumen, dexterity, patience, and managerial skill came into play; he was able to calm frayed nerves and he took full responsibility.”
The legislator continued, noting that Speaker Abbas conducted extensive consultations with stakeholders across states and zones, including governors and House leadership. “This is one of the bills I have seen in a long time where the Speaker consulted with almost everybody, state by state… He gave necessary assurance, telling everyone to relax and trust his leadership. And he delivered.”
The lawmaker concluded by affirming that among the many challenges Speaker Abbas has managed, this particular instance was a standout example of his leadership prowess, describing it as “exceptional” and worthy of commendation.
With the 10th Assembly now at its two-year mark, the stability and unity within the House of Representatives under Speaker Abbas Tajudeen’s leadership have become a reference point for democratic governance, legislative management, and national cohesion.
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