Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has raised serious concern over what he described as the steady erosion of institutional memory in the National Assembly, warning that the frequent exit of experienced lawmakers is hurting governance and slowing national progress.
Speaking at the 2026 National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Friday night, Abbas said the continuous turnover of legislators at every election cycle is weakening lawmaking capacity and disrupting policy continuity.
“The high turnover of Senators and Members over the years has come at a cost to governance, to lawmaking, and to public resources spent on constant training and retraining,” he said.
“Experience is lost. Institutional memory is weakened. Momentum is broken,” the Speaker added pointedly.
Abbas warned that the legislature, as a critical arm of government, cannot continue to operate in a cycle where knowledge and expertise are lost after every election.
“We cannot continue to start afresh every cycle and expect consistent progress. The legislature is not separate from this journey; it is a partner in it,” he stressed.
The Speaker explained that lawmakers play a central role in sustaining reforms, overseeing government programmes and protecting national interest, insisting that constant disruption in the system undermines these responsibilities.
In a direct appeal to party stakeholders, Abbas called for deliberate efforts to support the return of competent and performing legislators in future elections.
“I urge deliberate efforts to support committed and performing lawmakers so that both the executive and the legislature can sustain this path and complete the work we have begun,” he said.
He linked legislative stability to the broader reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that continuity across all arms of government is essential for the success of ongoing economic reforms.
“Reform is not a sprint; it is a journey. And that journey requires commitment and continuity. It must not be limited to the executive alone—it must extend to the legislature,” Abbas said.
While acknowledging the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, the Speaker defended the administration’s tough policy decisions, arguing that they are necessary for long-term growth.
“No nation moves forward by avoiding its challenges. No economy grows by ignoring its weaknesses. Leadership is about making difficult but necessary choices,” he said.
According to him, the current administration inherited an economy weighed down by inefficiencies, making bold reforms unavoidable.
“The choice was clear: continue with what was convenient or confront what was necessary. We chose reform over comfort and the future over the present,” he added.
Abbas also used the platform to call for unity within the APC, warning that internal divisions could weaken the party’s chances in future elections.
“This is not the time for division. This is the time for unity. Where we stand, we must stand together,” he said.
He further assured party leaders of strong backing from the North-West region, describing it as a major electoral stronghold.
“We will organise, we will mobilise, and we will deliver,” he declared.
The Speaker concluded with a rallying call for consistency in governance, urging Nigerians and party faithful not to abandon reforms midway.
“We cannot change direction in the middle of the journey. The discipline of progress requires that we sustain what we have started,” he said.
