The House of Representatives is to amend its standing orders to accommodate e-petitions to receiving and processing public petitions.

The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas disclosed this on Monday while inaugurating the newly digitalised hearing room and the maiden edition of the Public Accounts Committee’s magazine (PAC News.)

He said incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the work of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of parliaments is essential for enhancing transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the oversight of public funds.

“In line with the above, the House will commence the process of amending its Standing Orders to accommodate e-petitions and facilitate the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in receiving and processing public petitions.

“This transformative step will be the first of its kind in Nigeria and will enable more efficient, transparent, and accessible petition procedures, allowing citizens to engage with the legislative process more effectively.

“By integrating ICT, we aim to ensure that every voice can be heard and considered promptly, thus reinforcing our dedication to a responsive and accountable governance system that truly serves the interests of the Nigerian people,” he said.

According to the speaker, “Advanced digital tools and platforms streamline data analysis, facilitate real-time monitoring, and ensure comprehensive documentation of proceedings, thereby making the oversight process more effective and accessible.”

He said “The Nigerian House of Representatives is deeply committed to this goal, recognizing that leveraging technology is crucial for fostering good governance and inclusive participation. By investing in state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and continuously updating our technological capabilities, we aim to set a benchmark in legislative excellence and responsiveness to the needs of the Nigerian people.

“The digitalised hearing room is now equipped with advanced technologies and resources, including comprehensive legal references such as the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (1960-2024), Financial Regulations (2009), and the Procurement Act, among other relevant laws.

“This room features a large smart screen multimedia and other technical devices to facilitate e-hearings, thereby increasing efficiency, ensuring speedy consideration of cases, and promoting the effective delivery of our constitutional mandates,” he explained.

Speaking about the magazine, the speaker noted that “The PAC News Magazine will foster a sustained relationship with the media, civil society, and stakeholders, ensuring that the work of the House and PAC is accessible and understandable to a broader audience.

“It will provide a platform for sharing knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned, as well as preserving the digital footprints of the Committee’s oversight activities to guide future endeavours”.

In his welcome address, the chairman of PAC, Bamidele Salam said the digitalised hearing room, equipped with digital technologies such as laptops with over 100 resources, unlimited internet facilities, large-screen multimedia, and other technical devices for e-hearing, represents a major milestone in our committee’s history.

He disclosed that the digitalized hearing room contains Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (1960 to 2024); Legislative Law Reports (1987 to 2023); Judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (1960 to 2024); Judgments on Customary Laws of Nigeria (1960 to 2013); Law journals and others of all Nigerian Universities on the Bold Scholar website; Standing Orders and Bills of the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives, 2023 till date; Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the website of the National Library of Nigeria; E-copies of all the debates of legislative bodies of Nigeria from 1914 till 1999 on the E-library of the National Institute of Legislative Studies, Abuja.

The Chairman said, “As we take a significant step forward in harnessing technology to drive good governance, transparency, and accountability, I am bold to say that this innovation will enhance our oversight capabilities and accelerate our processes, enabling us to respond swiftly to emerging issues and concerns, thereby reducing administrative and bureaucratic bottlenecks which have been some of the major challenges we face as a committee.

“The maiden edition of the PAC News, a quarterly magazine is another innovative intervention of the committee. It represents a significant milestone in our efforts to deepen our engagement with the media and civil society, as well as expand the scope of our communication with MDAs, thereby strengthening transparency, accountability, and good governance.” (New Telegraph)