National Assembly to Translate Nigerian Laws into Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba

The National Assembly is set to expand access to legislative information by translating Nigerian laws into Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and other indigenous languages.

The Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Henry Nwawuba, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while declaring open the 2026 National Assembly Library Week.

The three-day event, themed “Parliamentary Memory: Connecting Records, Legislation and the People,” is aimed at promoting legislative research, access to information and effective use of the resources of the National Assembly Library.

Nwawuba said the library was more than a collection of books, describing it as a key knowledge institution for the legislature and a repository of parliamentary records.

He said the National Assembly Library was investing in electronic repositories and upgrading its e-library, while also developing a mobile application to make legislative information more accessible to lawmakers, staff, researchers and members of the public.

He also announced plans for a Bills Tracker, which would allow users to monitor bills and follow their progress through the legislative process.

According to him, the library is developing infographics, audiovisual materials and video explainers to simplify bills, Acts and legislative procedures for Nigerians.

Nwawuba said translating laws into local languages would help more citizens understand legislation that affects their daily lives.

He added that the library would organise public policy dialogues to encourage citizens’ participation in public hearings and strengthen interaction between lawmakers, researchers, civil society organisations and the public.

The initiatives, he said, would also help tackle the circulation of fake, incomplete or unauthorised copies of National Assembly documents.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged lawmakers to make greater use of the National Assembly Library, particularly amid growing misinformation, disinformation and rapid advances in artificial intelligence.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said legislative records were essential for preserving Nigeria’s legislative history and strengthening democratic governance.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, warned against the circulation of outdated, altered or unauthorised legislative documents. He stressed the need for stronger cybersecurity, digital preservation, authentication systems, access controls and staff training as parliamentary records become increasingly digitised.

Ogunlana also highlighted challenges associated with the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, noting that the compilation is not automatically updated whenever new laws are enacted.

He said digital platforms must remain accessible and secure, while electronic records must be authentic, traceable and protected from manipulation.

The President of the Nigerian Library Association, Dr Lawal Umar, called for sustained investment in libraries and modern information technology to improve access to legislative information.

He also urged stronger collaboration between the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.