The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, has said Nigeria has taken decisive steps to meet the global demand for sustainable social development and justice.
Kalu, who spoke at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on the topic
“Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice,” said the country’s key legislative achievements in recent years attested to its commitment to realising the objective.
He said one of the key pillars of the country’s strategy is the establishment of regional development commissions tasked with channelling resources where they are needed most, ensuring that policy interventions are tailored to each region’s unique challenges and opportunities.
“By decentralising our development efforts, we are breaking away from the one-size-fits-all approach and ensuring that every region can chart its course toward sustainable progress.
“We passed the Student Loan Act 2024 to open higher education to the underprivileged; established national commissions for Mass Literacy, Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, Nomadic Education, Refugees and IDPs, and Persons with Disabilities; strengthened healthcare by ensuring free emergency treatment for pregnant women and expanding health coverage via the National Health Insurance Authority; expanded health coverage.
“We created financial support systems—including non-collateral loans for youth and women cooperatives, entrepreneurship grants for NYSC members, and mandatory entrepreneurship education in universities; advanced social inclusion with the Not Too Young to Run Act to unlock governance spaces for youth.
“We are considering five new gender equity bills to boost women’s representation, and have enhanced funding for the Ministry of Women Affairs for grassroots empowerment; and passed the Nigeria Startup Act 2022 and Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 to unlock digital opportunities for young entrepreneurs and tech innovators, especially women,” Kalu said.
The deputy speaker further said another significant legislative measure is the new minimum wage bill, which, according to him, not only safeguards workers’ rights but also lays the foundation for a more dynamic and productive economy.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s government for implementing the tax reforms, saying the parliament had initiated a robust oversight function to ensure compliance, transparency, and accountability.
Kalu expressed worry that the continent of Africa is burdened by a huge debt profile that strains its public finances, making it challenging to realise sustainable social development.
He also assured that Nigeria’s journey towards social development and justice is defined by a steadfast commitment to human dignity, equity, and sustainable progress.
“Today, as we deliberate on parliamentary action for social development and justice, I call upon all members of this esteemed assembly to reaffirm our shared commitment to a new social contract—one that places people at the centre of every decision and prioritises robust oversight and accountability,” Kalu said.
