HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RESUMES THIRD SESSION, PASSES KEY RESOLUTIONS ON HEALTH, SECURITY, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMY

The House of Representatives resumed plenary for the Third Session of the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday June 24th with a robust legislative agenda, adopting new resolutions and processing several bills with implications for national development.
Among the highlights was the House’s concurrent approval with the Senate of the extension of the 2024 capital budget implementation deadline to December 31, 2025. Rep. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims (APC, Kogi), Deputy House Leader, led the bill’s presentation, stressing the necessity of the extension to complete capital projects under the current fiscal plan.
The House also received a formal communication from President Tinubu declining assent to the National Assembly Library Trust Fund Amendment Bill.
In oversight matters, lawmakers resolved to summon the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to explain perceived inefficiencies in the health insurance scheme. The motion, championed by Rep. Billy Famous Osawaru (APC, Edo), underscored the need to make healthcare accessible and affordable.
On gender equity, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara (APC, Lagos) secured House approval for a bill mandating a minimum 15% quota for women in the recruitment of officers into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Agricultural reform also received attention as Rep. Alex Egbona (APC, Cross River) presented a bill to make Agricultural Science a compulsory subject across Nigeria’s secondary schools—an effort to instill agrarian knowledge early in students.
To address the nation’s industrial stagnation, the House resolved to investigate the abandonment of over 30 Industrial Development Centres, following a motion by Rep. Emeka Idu Godwin (LP, Anambra). Lawmakers hope the findings will rejuvenate Nigeria’s manufacturing sector and create jobs.
Security challenges were also deliberated, with motions raised on the murder of 13 Kaduna indigenes in Plateau State and the collapse of banking activities in parts of Osun State due to insecurity. Reps. Sadiq Ango Abdullahi and Olusoji Abidemi Adetunji called for swift interventions by security agencies to restore peace and normalcy.