The 2025 edition of Open NASS Week officially commenced on 7 July 2025 at the House of Representatives in Abuja. Organised by the House of Representatives in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the National Assembly Library Trust Fund Transparency Forum (NALTF), the event marked the beginning of a three-day initiative aimed at enhancing transparency, institutional accountability, and citizen participation in legislative processes.
Now in its second year, Open NASS Week coincided with the 25th anniversary of Nigeria’s return to democratic governance and legislative rule. The opening ceremony featured a broad mix of lawmakers, civil society leaders, development partners, and members of the public. The leadership of the House expressed its commitment to fostering public trust and strengthening democracy through openness and engagement.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, reiterated the importance of citizens viewing the National Assembly as a people-owned institution and encouraged greater public involvement in parliamentary processes. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the event as an unprecedented development in the history of the National Assembly, particularly in terms of accessibility and openness.
Former Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara described the initiative as a significant milestone for legislative transparency, noting that such levels of public access had not previously been seen in the institution’s history. Other expressions of support came from current and former lawmakers, members of the diplomatic community, and civil society actors.
Representing the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman, the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, Hon. Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir, welcomed the initiative as a timely and inclusive platform for citizen engagement. She also used the occasion to highlight the importance of advancing gender-inclusive legislation, such as the Reserved Seats Bill for women.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, expressed the European Union’s support for the initiative and acknowledged the National Assembly’s key role in consolidating democratic governance. He also echoed calls for legislative reforms to enhance women’s participation.
PLAC’s Executive Director, Clement Nwankwo, commended the 10th Assembly for sustaining the Open NASS initiative, describing it as a practical step towards improving democratic institutions through civic engagement and legislative accountability.
Additional goodwill messages were delivered by several dignitaries, including representatives of the UNDP, former House Speakers Patricia Etteh and Femi Gbajabiamila, Senator Shehu Sani, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty (representing the Holy See), and the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli.
The opening ceremony underscored the collaborative spirit behind Open NASS Week and reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to inclusive governance. Stakeholders broadly agreed that such initiatives should become a permanent feature of Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
Subsequent sessions at the open week involved discussions on different thematic areas such as women representation in the legislature (Special Seats Bill), synergy in nutrition and food security, the constitutional role of traditional rulers, the economy and citizen participation and youth participation in politics and governance.
Some pictures from the event:
