Speaker Abbas urges effective communication to bridge gap between Govt, Citizens

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has emphasised the importance of effective communication in changing public opinion about government and its institutions.

He said this is why the 10th House, under his leadership, has prioritised citizen engagement and made legislative activities more transparent to Nigerians.

Speaker Abbas made these remarks on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the 2nd Nigeria Spokespersons Summit held in Abuja, where he was also honoured with an Honorary Fellowship by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

According to him, “Effective leadership communication is key to improving public perception of government institutions. In the House, we have taken concrete steps to make our legislative processes more accessible. We now live-stream plenary sessions, publish committee reports in real-time, and provide sign language interpretation during debates.”

He also noted that, for the first time in the history of the National Assembly, the 10th House has started conducting annual self-assessments and presenting its scorecard to the public, all in a bid to build trust and make the legislature more open and vibrant.

The Speaker commended the NIPR and the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation for organising the summit and recognising the efforts made to improve public communication. He described the summit’s theme, ‘Integrity and the Evolving Roles of Spokespersons in Leadership Communication,’ as both timely and necessary.

“Today, I wish to address the challenges and opportunities of communicating leadership ideals in our democracy, our shared duty to uphold truth and trust, and the steps we can take together to reinforce good governance,” he stated.

He further stressed the need for communication to reflect Nigeria’s democratic growth after 25 years of uninterrupted democracy. “Democracy, for me, is about government with the people,” he said, adding that there must be a true partnership between the government and the governed, built on truth, inclusion, and mutual respect.

The Speaker pointed out that, in today’s world where misinformation spreads quickly, there is an urgent need for honest and inclusive communication. He warned against seeing public relations as mere propaganda and instead described integrity as a key ingredient of any successful democracy.

“When practitioners and spokespersons adhere to ethical standards, they empower citizens to make informed decisions and hold leaders accountable. Conversely, practices rooted in deception weaken our social contract and foster cynicism,” he said.

He highlighted the efforts of the 10th House in drawing citizens closer to the legislative process through new platforms such as the ‘State of the House’ forum, introduced in 2024, which allows Nigerians to engage directly with House leadership in a live setting.

Speaker Abbas also announced plans for youth town halls to be held twice yearly, giving young Nigerians — who make up over 60% of the population — a chance to contribute to national discussions on governance and policy.

“These engagements have led to concrete outcomes,” he said, noting also the launch of an annual ‘Legislative Open Week’ to include civil society groups, students, traditional leaders, market women, and more, promoting openness and accountability in governance.

He shared a memorable moment when a 16-year-old girl, Isabel Anini, was invited to preside over a House session, describing it as a symbol of inclusiveness and belief in the younger generation.

To boost public understanding of the legislative process, the Speaker called for a stronger collaboration between the NIPR and the National Assembly. He suggested a nationwide orientation campaign that would explain how laws and policies are made and the role of parliament.

He concluded by advocating for training programmes for press officers and parliamentary committees, based on international best practices, to help translate complex legislative issues into simple, relatable stories for every Nigerian.