REPS UNVEIL NEW GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
A new legislative committee focused on community and social development has been inaugurated by the House of Representatives, reflecting an intensified effort to institutionalize inclusive growth through local interventions. At a ceremony held within the National Assembly Complex, Deputy Chief Whip Rep. Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka stood in for Speaker Abbas Tajudeen to launch the Committee on Community and Social Development/NG-CARES.
Chairman Rep. Abubakar Yahaya Kusada of Katsina State pledged the Committee’s active engagement with stakeholders, promising that their work would translate into tangible, measurable outcomes. “We will not merely monitor. We will actively engage,” Kusada said, positioning the body as a collaborative bridge between lawmakers and the communities they represent.
The Committee’s remit extends beyond oversight of development agencies like the CSDA and NG-CARES—it also aims to periodically recalibrate policies to meet the evolving needs of underserved populations. Speaker Abbas underscored the role of such agencies in mitigating Nigeria’s deep-seated poverty through decentralised, participatory solutions.
Data presented at the inauguration revealed that CSDA initiatives have reached more than 23 million Nigerians across 29 states, while NG-CARES, backed by the World Bank, has touched over two million through grants, services, and infrastructure. The Committee’s establishment signals a shift towards evidence-driven legislative action, and the House expects its work to reaffirm public trust in democratic governance.
