The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has declared that Nigeria cannot secure its future or achieve true democratic development while leaving half of its population on the sidelines.
Speaker Abbas made the assertion on Monday, June 8, 2026 during a productive meeting with Mr. Moritz Sprenker, the newly appointed Resident Representative of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) foundation in Nigeria. While welcoming Mr. Sprenker, the Speaker reaffirmed the critical importance of international partnerships in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and bolstering its legislative institutions.
With the National Assembly currently undertaking critical constitutional reforms, Speaker Abbas formally requested technical support from KAS in two pivotal areas aimed at shaping the nation’s future: the establishment of State Police and the expansion of women’s representation through reserved legislative seats.
“Security remains the foundation upon which development is built,” Speaker Abbas stated, emphasizing that democratic institutions cannot truly flourish when women remain underrepresented in the chambers where major policy decisions are made.
The Speaker noted that Nigeria ought to be leading the global conversation on women’s inclusion rather than trailing behind. He expressed confidence that through sustained engagement, data-driven advocacy, and strategic partnerships, the legislature can build the necessary consensus to convince skeptics that a secure and prosperous Nigeria requires giving women a stronger voice at the decision-making table.
Acknowledging KAS’s longstanding partnership with the House of Representatives, Speaker Abbas look forward to an even deeper collaboration focused on strengthening democratic governance, improving legislative oversight, and building a more secure, inclusive nation.
