U.S., U.K. Lawmakers to Understudy Abbas Led House of Reps Model

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House of Representatives Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen



By Toba Owojaiye | Abuja, Nigeria

 


‎In a bold twist to global democratic engagement, the Nigerian House of Representatives is now at the center of international interest, as lawmakers from the United States Congress, British House of Commons, and European Union are reportedly preparing to understudy Nigeria’s groundbreaking legislative openness model.

‎This revelation was made by Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesperson of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, at the close of the second edition of the National Assembly Open Week, held from July 8–10, 2025. Agbese, who represents the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the event as a “revolutionary blueprint for global legislative engagement.”

‎”The U.S. Congress, the British House of Commons, and other respected parliaments are now sending representatives to Nigeria to study how the House of Representatives is doing it,” Agbese declared. “Nigeria’s parliament has become a reference point globally. That is the legacy Speaker Abbas is building.”

‎Themed “Deepening Citizens’ Trust and Participation: Celebrating Our Journey as the People’s House”, the 2025 edition of Open Week expanded the boundaries of legislative access in Nigeria. Citizens, civil society groups, students, and diplomatic corps were granted unprecedented access to committee sessions, lawmaker scorecards, and town hall engagements, ushering in a new era of participatory democracy.

‎Agbese credited this transformation to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, whom he hailed as a “rare gift to the nation” and “a torchbearer for a new democratic ethos.”

‎ “This is not just a programme,” Agbese said. “It is a movement, a national renaissance of trust in democratic institutions.”



‎His words were echoed by attendees from across the political and diplomatic spectrum who described the initiative as a model of citizen-driven reform.

‎While legislative transparency has long been a benchmark of mature democracies, Nigeria’s House of Representatives is now leading a paradigm shift. Multiple national dailies confirm that delegations from the U.S., U.K., and the EU have contacted the Nigerian Parliament to explore how the House has managed to operationalize openness and citizen engagement at scale.

‎The move is being interpreted as a rare global endorsement of an African democratic institution—especially one previously viewed through the lens of opacity and bureaucracy.

‎ “Speaker Abbas has not only raised the bar but redefined what legislative leadership should look like in the 21st century,” Agbese asserted.


‎Reports from The Independent, Truth Live News and Linda Ikeji Blog confirm that high-level preparations are underway to facilitate these international study visits. Diplomats and observers who attended the 2025 Open Week lauded the seamless access and transparency on display.


‎Speaker Abbas’ leadership of the 10th House has increasingly prioritized people over power, transparency over tradition. With initiatives like the Open NASS framework, the House has moved away from performative declarations to a sustained culture of engagement. The 2024 inaugural edition laid the foundation; 2025 has cemented the momentum.

‎ “This is the first time in the history of any parliament in the world that such a deeply participatory initiative is being institutionalized,” Agbese claimed. “The verdict is unanimous: this is the House of the people, and the people are being heard.”

‎In a world where democratic trust is in decline, Nigeria’s House of Representatives has emerged as an unlikely pioneer. What was once seen as one of Africa’s most closed legislative spaces is now being lauded as a case study in participatory governance.

‎This development doesn’t just enhance Nigeria’s global democratic image, it raises new expectations at home. Citizens now have a blueprint for what legislative accountability can look like. If the momentum is sustained, Nigeria could very well become a continental hub for legislative innovation.

‎In an era where democracies are struggling to stay relevant to the people, Nigeria’s House of Representatives is not only rewriting its own story, t is now helping the world to reimagine what a true People’s House should be.

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