The House of Representatives on Wednesday, at plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, considered a range of legislative and oversight matters focused on parliamentary procedure, military welfare, infrastructure development, disaster response, and ongoing legislative business.
On parliamentary procedure, the House adopted a motion seeking a precise interpretation of the term “cognate legislative experience” as contained in Order Seven, Rule 15 of its Standing Orders. Following deliberations, the House resolved that the term shall apply only to Members who have completed at least one full four-year term in the House of Representatives. The resolution, which aligns with parliamentary practice aimed at preserving institutional memory, legislative continuity, and stability in leadership succession, was referred to the Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
The House also adopted a motion on the automatic merger of service years for officers commissioned into the Nigerian Army through the Short Service Combatant Commission (SSCC), Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC), and Direct Regular Commission (DRC). Members urged the Nigerian Army Council to discontinue the mandatory merger of service years, make such mergers optional for pension computation upon request, and harmonise service reckonability across the Armed Forces to promote fairness, cohesion, and uniformity. In addition, the House called on the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to prioritise the completion and commissioning of the Oil and Gas Park at Emeyal in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State as part of efforts to deepen local content and industrial development.
As a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, the House considered the devastating effects of heavy rainfall and flooding in Zambuk Community, Yamaltu-Deba Federal Constituency of Gombe State. It urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to conduct an immediate assessment and provide emergency relief materials, while calling on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to deploy urgent humanitarian assistance, including food, medical supplies, and other relief support. The matter was referred to the relevant Committees for further oversight.
In its legislative business, the House passed two Bills clarifying the host community and official location of federal institutions in Bende, Abia State. It also advanced four Bills on commercial law reform, price regulation, military pensions, and human resource management through Second Reading and referred them to the relevant Committees for further legislative scrutiny. In addition, the House received six new Bills for First Reading, including the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment) Bill.
The House further considered and adopted the recommendations contained in seven Committee reports, including reports on a Bill to repeal and re-enact the Merchant Shipping Act and a Bill to amend the Nigerian Meteorological Agency Act, among others.
Earlier in plenary, Rep. Aliyu Bappa Misau (Bauchi State) announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), further consolidating the party’s growing presence in the Green Chamber. The development brings the total number of recorded defections in the 10th Assembly since July 2024 to 163.
The proceedings underscored the House’s continued commitment to strengthening parliamentary institutions, improving military welfare, supporting economic development, responding to humanitarian emergencies, and advancing legislation in the national interest.
