During Thursday’s plenary session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, the House of Representatives made significant legislative strides. The chamber advanced key reforms across civil registration, insurance, pensions, defence, and intelligence, while introducing critical legislative proposals to address housing, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Upholding its foundational duty as a representative institution, the House received five petitions from citizens requesting legislative intervention to address their concerns which were laid by Hon. Jesse Okey and Hon. Martin Nwogbu.
The House tackled urgent regional and environmental issues, notably urging immediate emergency erosion control, necessary road repairs, and relief provisions for severely impacted communities in Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, Imo State as raised by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.
The House maintained an active legislative agenda, pushing several critical bills through various stages of the lawmaking process:
Two significant Bills were formally introduced for first reading to the chamber: one proposing Advance Rent Regulation and Tenant Protections in the Federal Capital Territory(HB. 2839) by Hon. Paul Nnamchi and another seeking to establish the National Postgraduate College of Pharmacists(HB. 2840) by Hon. Adamu Ibrahim Gamawa.
Following comprehensive debates on their core principles, four major Bills successfully passed their second reading and were dispatched to relevant House Committees for detailed legislative review. They include; Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (Establishment) Act(HB. 2832) by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, National Senior Secondary Education Commission Act(HB. 2790 by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015(HB. 2791) by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere and National Children’s Hospital:(HB. 1427) by Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere.
Marking a significant breakthrough in ongoing national reforms, five crucial bills spearheaded by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere successfully passed their Third Reading, marking a major legislative milestone: HB. 2240 to amend the National Assembly Service Pension Board Act; SB. 394 to repeal the National Insurance Commission Act and enact the Insurance Regulatory Commission Bill, 2026; SB. 913 to modernize civil registration through an electronic system; HB. 2741 to establish the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre for enhanced military coordination; and HB. 2589 to establish the Strategic Intelligence Management Institute.
Moving forward with agricultural development, the House considred two key committee reports, approving proposed frameworks for the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service Bill and the creation of the Federal College of Horticulture in Iyara, Kogi State (HB. 1447).
The sitting was subsequently adjourned to Tuesday, October 26, 2026, as the chamber concluded its legislative business for the week.
