The House of Representatives continued sittings on Wednesday, with proceedings marked by consideration of matters of urgent national importance, executive-legislative coordination, and collaboration on critical institutional reforms.
At the commencement of the sitting, presided over by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, the House was formally notified of the receipt of three letters from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which were read in accordance with established parliamentary practice.
The communications contained the following Executive Bills transmitted by Mr. President for consideration and passage into law:
Executive Communication
1. Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill, 2026
The Bill proposes far-reaching reforms to the Court of Appeal Act, Cap. C36, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, including an increase in the number of Justices from seventy to one hundred and ten, clarification of judicial structure and seniority, introduction of virtual court proceedings, establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre within the Court of Appeal, and procedural and administrative enhancements aimed at improving efficiency, access to justice, and alignment with contemporary legal and institutional standards.
2. Federal High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The Bill seeks to amend the Federal High Court Act, Cap. F12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, by increasing the statutory number of Justices from seventy to ninety, in response to the Court’s expanding jurisdiction, particularly in matters relating to terrorism, transnational organised crime, and other national security-related offences.
3. Health Sector Reform Bills
A presidential communication transmitting twenty-four Health Sector Bills to the National Assembly pursuant to Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The Bills, reviewed by the Federal Executive Council, are intended to reform governance frameworks within the health sector by streamlining governing board structures to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
Matters of Urgent Public Importance
The House also adopted three separate Matters of Urgent Public Importance addressing pressing security and public-order challenges across the federation. These include rising tensions over boundary claims in the Eba Island–Atijere axis along the Ondo–Ogun boundary, recent violent incidents in Okon-Aku Ohafia, Abia State, and persistent banditry attacks in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Relevant Committees were mandated to engage concerned agencies, ensure compliance with the resolutions of the House, and report back accordingly.
Legislative Coordination and Redress
Further reflecting its legislative and representative mandate, the House constituted a Conference Committee to harmonise legislative positions between the two Chambers of the National Assembly, and received four petitions from aggrieved citizens.
All four petitions were laid before the House and referred to the Committee on Public Petitions for investigation and report.
Attached are photo highlights from today’s plenary sitting.
