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| Hon. Benjamin Kalu |
Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, used the platform of the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, to highlight measurable progress from the country’s ongoing economic reforms while underscoring that macroeconomic gains must translate into tangible improvements in food security, jobs, and everyday livelihoods for citizens.
Speaking on the Assembly’s theme, “Enhancing Good Governance and Empowering Communities Through Inclusivity, Trust and Opportunities for All,” Kalu presented Nigeria’s recent performance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as evidence that bold policy shifts are yielding results. He pointed to real GDP growth of 4.43 percent in the second quarter of 2026, an improvement from 4.23 percent in the corresponding period of 2025, according to National Bureau of Statistics data. The expansion was supported by stronger showings in agriculture (4.39 percent) and services (4.60 percent), with the non-oil sector contributing the bulk of activity.
Kalu linked these figures to broader reform outcomes: “Nigeria’s reforms have lifted growth to 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, and ease of doing business has remarkably improved.
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Inflation has eased, and external reserves stand above 55 billion dollars, the highest in nearly two decades.” Central Bank of Nigeria figures and recent statements by Governor Olayemi Cardoso confirm that gross external reserves have climbed to around $55 billion—levels not seen in roughly 18 years—with net reserves also strengthening significantly to about $46 billion. This rebuilding of buffers has coincided with greater foreign-exchange market stability, offering investors more predictability after earlier periods of acute scarcity.
The Deputy Speaker framed these indicators within a wider narrative of parliamentary and executive collaboration. Since the Tinubu administration took office, successive policy adjustments—including efforts to rationalize the foreign-exchange regime, prioritize non-oil growth, and strengthen fiscal discipline—have aimed to restore confidence after years of macroeconomic strain. Independent assessments and state-level ease-of-doing-business rankings have shown pockets of improvement, with some states aligning reforms in regulatory simplification, digital governance, and dispute resolution to the national agenda. Yet Kalu was careful to note that headline numbers alone are insufficient. “The gains must now be felt in the real economy, particularly in food security and jobs,” he stressed, calling for mechanization, irrigation, and expanded farmer credit to reach rural communities rather than leave them behind.
On the digital front, Kalu emphasized that participation in the modern economy increasingly hinges on skills and technological literacy. The National Assembly, he said, is advancing legislation around data protection, cybersecurity, and broadband expansion while investing in young people to equip them for emerging opportunities.
This legislative push reflects a recognition that Nigeria’s large youth population represents both a demographic dividend and a potential vulnerability if digital divides persist. Parallel priorities in health include revitalizing primary healthcare, expanding insurance coverage, and building local pharmaceutical capacity—measures framed as essential for “health security through local content” and for rebuilding public trust.
Security featured prominently in Kalu’s remarks. He referenced the constitutional amendment process that advanced state police provisions in mid-2026. The Senate and House of Representatives passed bills establishing a dual policing framework—federal and state services operating side by side—with the National Assembly later transmitting the State Police Bill to the 36 state assemblies for the required ratification by at least two-thirds. The model retains federal primacy over counterterrorism, borders, and national security while allowing states to establish forces that meet minimum national standards. Kalu cautioned, however, that “security alone does not make peace.” Citizens trust institutions, he argued, when courts are fair and accessible and when the powerful face the same law as ordinary people.
Climate considerations underpinned much of the intervention. Kalu described climate change as “the ground beneath every other agenda item,” urging every parliament to apply an “earth-first lens” to legislation. In related debates at the same Assembly, he called for structured, bankable legislative interventions that move beyond pledges—proposing investor-ready project pipelines in clean energy, climate-smart agriculture, resilient infrastructure, and circular economy approaches, alongside platforms to take viable projects from concept to financing and implementation. Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan targeting net-zero emissions by 2060 is estimated to require hundreds of billions in additional capital, which Kalu presented as both a challenge and an investment opportunity capable of creating green jobs and modernizing infrastructure, provided it remains a just transition that expands energy access and leaves no region behind.
Kalu’s appearance in Arusha fits a broader pattern of Nigerian parliamentary diplomacy. As Deputy Speaker since 2023 and co-chair of the House Constitution Review Committee, he has engaged actively in regional and global forums, including the ECOWAS Parliament, Pan-African Parliament, and previous IPU sessions. His interventions often blend domestic legislative priorities—such as constitutional reforms, digital economy bills, and development commissions—with calls for collective action on shared challenges like climate resilience and inclusive governance. The Nigerian delegation to the 153rd Assembly, which included senators and representatives, was urged by Kalu to serve as strong ambassadors given the country’s voting weight and influence within the IPU.
The Assembly itself concluded with the election of Australia’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Milton Dick, as the new IPU President. Dick secured 56 percent of the vote in a secret ballot, succeeding Tanzania’s Dr. Tulia Ackson, whose three-year term ended with the gathering. Dick had earlier engaged with Nigerian legislators during a visit to the National Assembly.
The 153rd Assembly, hosted by Tanzania’s National Assembly in Arusha from 5–9 October 2026, drew nearly 700 parliamentarians from more than 130 countries and adopted the Arusha Communiqué reaffirming commitments to evidence-based governance, inclusivity, and community empowerment.
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Kalu closed on a measured note of progress without complacency: “These principles continue to guide Nigeria’s development journey under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with Parliament reinforcing them through law. We have not yet reached our destination, but we have made considerable strides. May our legislation help build trust, create opportunity and guarantee inclusion.”
The message from Arusha underscores a recurring tension in Nigeria’s reform story. Macroeconomic indicators—growth acceleration, reserve accumulation, and relative inflation moderation—provide evidence that difficult policy choices are beginning to stabilize the foundations. Translating those gains into lower food prices, sustainable employment, reliable local security, expanded digital access, and climate-resilient communities remains the more complex and urgent task. Parliamentary diplomacy of the kind Kalu practiced in Tanzania offers one channel for sharing lessons, attracting partnerships, and reinforcing domestic accountability. Whether the “considerable strides” he described ultimately close the gap between statistical progress and lived experience will depend on sustained implementation, inclusive delivery, and the continued alignment of legislative, executive, and subnational efforts.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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