April 16, 2025
Do more for Africa beyond elections’ monitoring, Speaker Abbas urges EU
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has called on the European Union (EU) to step up its multilateral and bilateral cooperation with African countries, saying Asia is now doing more for the black continent in terms of physical investment.
He urged the EU to take the opportunity of the withdrawal of aids to other countries by the Donald Trump administration to do more for African countries beyond election monitoring and security trainings.
Speaker Abbas made the call in Abuja on Wednesday when the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ambassador Gautier Mignot, visited him.
With the Speaker were the Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; Minority Whip, Hon Ali Isah; Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon Wole Oke, and Chairman, House Parliamentary Friendship Group on Nigeria-EU, Hon. Abdulmaleek Danga.
The Speaker described Wednesday as a day of history, as it was the second meeting with the EU and the first in 2025 to discuss issues between Nigeria and Europe.
He noted that the National Assembly, specifically the House, is a friend to the EU and is willing to cooperate and partner in all areas of endeavours.
He said: “I just want to draw our attention to some things that I feel the European Union can do better. You (EU) have tried tremendously in terms of capacity, especially in areas of election monitoring, particularly Nigeria. But I see a trend that is a bit uncomfortable from your side that the EU needs to address.
“Asia is fast approaching Africa. You should have dominant investments and stakes in Africa. But what we have today is that the majority of the investments are coming from Asia. Less and fewer investments from the EU are being witnessed in Africa. I believe it is an area that we need to holistically look at and see how we can continue to make EU more relevant to Nigeria and to Africa. There are many areas that we have already advanced in our relationship over the last 50 years.
“Just last week, we received the Ambassador of China to Nigeria, and the kind of ambitious plans we heard him say about China and Nigeria, as well as Africa, are unprecedented. Some weeks ago, I also had the opportunity to meet with the Indian Ambassador, and I also heard about the kind of ambitious plans they have.
“We don’t hear much from the EU these days as far as Africa is concerned, perhaps, except in the area of elections and security. But when it comes to real investments, the EU is not actually progressing at the rate it should.
“We believe if there is any country or union that deserves to really stamp its feet in Africa, it is the EU. So, I want to use this opportunity to urge that more and more collaboration needs to come onboard between Africa and the EU.”
Earlier, Ambassador Mignot noted that Nigeria is a key partner to the EU, not only for the future but for the present, especially with the recent developments in the US under President Trump.
The ambassador said the EU is committed to partnerships with African countries, especially Nigeria, describing the country as a “trade and investment partner,” stressing that his continent will champion more investments, especially in Nigeria.
Ambassador Mignot noted that the areas of interest include science, information, and technology, while the EU would continue to offer humanitarian assistance to Nigeria. He added that a strengthened relationship with Nigeria would attract more sustainable investments and opportunities for Nigerians.
While noting that the parliament is the bastion of democracy, the EU envoy called for more collaboration between the EU Parliament and the Nigerian National Assembly.
Ambassador Mignot cited other areas of interest to the EU to be the Electoral Act, urging the National Assembly to improve the electoral framework for Nigeria. He also mentioned gender inclusion and participation in public affairs.
Signed:
Musa Abdullahi Krishi
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 15:56 Ahmed Musa Baba <omaadoja@gmail.com> wrote:
Press Statement from the Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives
April 15, 2025
Effective communication by spokespersons, key to government’s public acceptance – Speaker Abbas
…as NIPR honours him with fellowship
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has stated that only effective communication by spokespersons could change public perception of the government and its institutions.
This, Speaker Abbas noted, was why the 10th House, under his leadership, has further opened legislative activities in the parliament to the public through citizens’ engagements.
The Speaker made this known at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Nigeria Spokespersons Summit and conferment of honorary fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja on Tuesday, where he was conferred with an Honorary Fellowship of the institute.
He said: “Effective leadership communication is key to improving public perception of government institutions. In the House, we have taken concrete steps to make our legislative processes more accessible. We now live-stream plenary sessions, publish committee reports in real-time, and provide sign language interpretation during debates.
“For the first time in the history of the National Assembly, the 10th House is conducting annual self-assessments and presenting its scorecard to the Nigerian public. All these demonstrate that our legislature is a vibrant, accessible institution committed to restoring public trust.”
The Speaker appreciated the NIPR leadership and the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation for hosting the summit and recognising the efforts in strengthening public communication.
He also noted that the theme of the summit, ‘Integrity and the Evolving Roles of Spokespersons in Leadership Communication’, is both timely and enduring.
Speaker Abbas said: “Today, I wish to address the challenges and opportunities of communicating leadership ideals in our democracy, our shared duty to uphold truth and trust, and the steps we can take together to reinforce good governance.
“After 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, Nigeria has reached a stage where the way we communicate leadership and policy must reflect the maturity of our democratic process. At its core, democracy is not merely the government of the people, by the people, or for the people; democracy, for me, is about government WITH the people.
“This redefinition highlights the need for an active and ongoing partnership between those who govern and those who are governed. This relationship should be built on truth, inclusion, and mutual respect.”
He added: “In an era when misinformation can spread faster than facts and erode public trust, the necessity for honest, clear, and inclusive communication cannot be overstated. Too often, ‘Public Relations’ has been misunderstood as mere spin or propaganda, yet integrity in communication is the cornerstone of a thriving democracy.
“When practitioners and spokespersons adhere to ethical standards, they empower citizens to make informed decisions and hold leaders accountable. Conversely, practices rooted in deception weaken our social contract and foster cynicism.”
Within the legislative arena, the Speaker noted that the House has embraced a commitment to active citizen engagement by bringing parliament closer to the people.
Under the banner of the ‘People’s House,’ he said the 10th House introduced innovative initiatives to demystify the legislative process. “Our ‘State of the House’ engagement forum, first launched in 2024, was the first of its kind by the leadership of the National Assembly. It allowed citizens nationwide to directly interact with House leadership in a live forum, marking a departure from the old approach of speaking to the people from a distance,” he said.
Speaker Abbas also mentioned the youth town halls, to hold twice a year to give young Nigerians — who make up over 60 per cent of the population — a platform to discuss governance and policy. “These engagements have led to concrete outcomes, he said while also noting an annual ‘Legislative Open Week’ to civil society organisations, students, traditional leaders, market women, and others, “thereby fostering greater transparency and accountability.”
The Speaker recalled a particularly memorable moment when he invited a 16-year-old Isabel Anini to preside over a plenary session, “symbolising my commitment to inclusivity and our confidence in the potential of the next generation.”
Speaker Abbas proposed a stronger partnership between the NIPR and the National Assembly, working together to launch public orientation campaigns that explain how policies are created and showcase the important role of parliament. “This initiative could significantly enhance public understanding and reduce negative perceptions. By combining our efforts, we can ensure clear, effective, and inclusive communication,” he said.
The Speaker also recommended that targeted training programmes for press officers and parliamentary committees — guided by global best practices — would help translate complex legislative matters into narratives that resonate with all Nigerians.
