On Thursday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, signed a landmark agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the implementation of the Parliamentary Development Programme, aimed at enhancing the capacity of legislators and their staff. The signing ceremony took place in Abuja, marking a significant step in the partnership between the Nigerian legislature and the UNDP.
The agreement, signed by the Speaker and Elsie Attafuah, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Nigeria, builds on a previous understanding reached earlier this year. The programme seeks to address the capacity needs of the 10th House of Representatives through targeted training and development.
Speaker Abbas described the agreement as a historic moment, emphasizing that the collaboration would involve training for both members of the legislature and the staff of the House, including clerks of chambers and committees, over the next three years. He highlighted that the UNDP would establish a dedicated office for the project and employ staff to ensure its success.
The Speaker expressed optimism that the programme would strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian legislature to better serve the public.
UNDP’s Attafuah commended the Speaker’s leadership and reaffirmed her organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development. She praised the Speaker’s efforts towards inclusivity, particularly in promoting women’s participation in politics and governance, which aligns with UNDP’s focus areas.
The ceremony was attended by key figures from the House of Representatives, including Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere, Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs Akin Rotimi, and other senior officials, alongside a high-level UNDP delegation.
