…Transparency initiative’ll deepen public trust, says Waive
By Paul Effiong, Abuja
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business, Honourable Francis Waive, has unveiled the legislative performance scorecard of the 10th House of Representatives, which was inaugurated on June 23, 2023.
Speaking during a press briefing, the lawmaker announced that the proposed “Open National Assembly” initiative is scheduled to take place next week in Abuja.
He explained that the scheme aims to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public participation in the lawmaking process, thereby giving Nigerians a clearer understanding of the activities and achievements of the 10th National Assembly.
Hon. Waive disclosed that during the ongoing third legislative session of the 10th House, a total of 484 bills had been introduced. This figure comprises 31 Executive Bills, 391 Private Members’ Bills, and 62 Senate Bills, with 126 bills successfully passed. He noted that these statistics reflect the House’s unwavering commitment to addressing critical national issues through robust legislation and sector-wide reforms.
Providing an overview of the House’s activities between June 2025 and June 2026, the lawmaker stated that 220 motions were considered. Of these, 192 were referred to standing committees and 28 to ad-hoc committees for further legislative action. Furthermore, 121 motions were presented as matters of urgent public importance, while the House also considered 48 public petitions, demonstrating its responsiveness to citizens’ grievances.
Reviewing the overall legislative progression from June 2023 to 15th June 2026, Hon. Waive revealed that the House had received 2,747 bills for first reading. The total consists of 57 Executive Bills, 95 Senate Bills, and 2,595 Private Members’ Bills, with 363 bills successfully passed into law—marking what he described as one of the most active legislative periods in recent history.
Breaking down the previous legislative sessions, Hon. Waive said the first session recorded 1,351 bills—including 12 Executive Bills, 1,336 Private Members’ Bills, and three Senate Bills—with 89 passed. The second session witnessed the introduction of 912 bills, comprising 14 Executive Bills, 868 Private Members’ Bills, and 30 Senate Bills, yielding 148 passed pieces of legislation.
The committee chairman further stated that the House currently has 1,782 bills awaiting a second reading, 323 bills referred to standing committees, and 185 bills awaiting consideration. He also disclosed that five bills were negatived (rejected), while 89 bills were consolidated to eliminate duplication and enhance legislative efficiency, bringing the cumulative number of bills handled to 2,747.
Hon. Waive expressed confidence that the forthcoming Open National Assembly would provide Nigerians with an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers, understand the legislative process, and appreciate the work being done by the House of Representatives.
In his earlier remarks, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, the Honourable Akin Rotimi, emphasised that the Open National Assembly programme underscores the 10th House’s commitment to openness, citizen engagement, and improved democratic governance through effective legislation.
Fielding questions from journalists, the lawmaker firmly denied bribery allegations against the House leadership, noting that no lawmaker has ever paid a bribe to push for bills or motions on the floor of the House.
