Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, on Monday called for bold, new approaches to Nigeria’s security crisis, stating bluntly that current strategies have not worked. He made the remarks while opening a public hearing on security-related bills organized by the House Committee on Defence, chaired by Hon. Babajimi Benson.
Speaker Abbas said the 10th National Assembly intends to make legislative interventions on security part of its legacy. He argued that evolving threats demand innovations beyond old methods that have fallen short.
The hearing, he emphasized, is not a formality. It was convened as a platform for robust, evidence-based engagement to strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks governing Nigeria’s military. 
Four key bills anchor the legislative push. HB.1820 seeks to establish an Armed Forces Farms and Ranches Scheme, linking food security with military capacity in conflict-prone agricultural zones.
HB.1719 focuses on gender representation in the Armed Forces. The Speaker noted that no security force can be truly effective without harnessing the talents of all citizens, regardless of gender.
HB.1949 proposes a full repeal of the existing Armed Forces Act and its replacement with a Nigerian Military Force Bill. The overhaul aims to modernize military administration to meet contemporary threats.
HB.1950, the Veterans’ Federation of Nigeria Bill, targets post-service welfare. Speaker Abbas said the bill ensures those who have served do not suffer in silence after service. Other proposals before the Committee cover military education, doctrine, and medical services.
He described the package as a direct response to evolving security threats and the need for a more resilient, inclusive, and effective military. The effort forms a core component of the 10th Assembly’s Legislative Agenda.
Issuing a direct appeal to stakeholders, Speaker Abbas urged participation from serving and retired military personnel, civil society, gender experts, veterans, lawyers, and ordinary citizens. He asked them to submit memoranda, critique where necessary, and propose solutions.
“Do not hold back because you think your voice does not matter. It does,” he said. “I give you my word. Every memorandum will be read, every oral presentation will be noted, and all relevant contributions will be considered.” He called it “our legacy as the People’s Assembly.”
The Speaker assured stakeholders of transparency and fairness from the Committee on Defence. “We are not here to defend any interest or hidden agenda,” he stated. The goal is legislation that makes the Armed Forces more professional, accountable, gender-sensitive, and effective in protecting lives and property.
Committee Chairman Hon. Babajimi Benson added that the bills address military education, joint operational effectiveness, medical training, strategic research, veterans’ welfare, governance reforms, food security, and inclusiveness. He said the proposals represent an effort to build a stronger, future-ready military as threats evolve from insurgency to cybercrime and transnational crime.
