NIGERIAN HOUSE OF REPS DRAWS GLOBAL ATTENTION AS US, UK, EU PLAN TO STUDY CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT MODEL

The House of Representatives of Nigeria has captured the attention of global parliamentary institutions following the second edition of its National Assembly Open Week, which was held from July 8 to July 10, 2025, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. The initiative, spearheaded by Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, created an unprecedented platform for citizen-lawmakers engagement, offering Nigerians a front-row seat to legislative proceedings while encouraging direct interaction between the public and their elected representatives. In a press briefing on July 11, Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese, revealed that delegations from the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union are now making plans to study and possibly replicate Nigeria’s citizen engagement model. “Our open legislative model has become an international case study in participatory democracy,” Agbese announced, calling it “a masterstroke of institutional innovation. ”This development has reinforced Speaker Abbas Tajudeen’s vision for a more transparent and accountable legislature—an initiative that has already garnered commendation from civil society organizations, development partners, and the diplomatic community. The 2025 edition of the Open Week featured exhibitions from ministries, town hall-style engagements, public Q&A sessions with lawmakers, and panel discussions on youth participation, governance accountability, and the role of technology in legislative oversight. As global parliaments look toward Abuja for legislative inspiration, the House of Representatives is positioning itself not just as a national lawmaking body—but as a thought leader in open governance across Africa.