Nigerian Laws to Be Translated Into Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba by National Assembly
The National Assembly is set to translate Nigerian laws into major indigenous languages, including Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, in a move aimed at making legislation more accessible and understandable to citizens.
Henry Nwawuba, Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, 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,” focuses on improving legislative research, access to information and effective use of National Assembly Library resources.
Nwawuba said the proposed translation initiative would complement the legislature’s wider digitisation programme, which includes electronic repositories, an upgraded E-Library, a proposed mobile application and a Bills Tracker.
According to him, translating laws into local languages would enable more Nigerians to understand legislation and its implications for their daily lives.
He added that the library was also developing infographics, audiovisual materials and video explainers to simplify Bills, Acts and legislative procedures for members of the public.
Nwawuba described the National Assembly Library as more than a collection of books, saying it serves as the “knowledge infrastructure of the legislature and a repository of parliamentary records.”
He said the library was working to improve access for lawmakers, legislative aides, researchers and other stakeholders to authoritative parliamentary documents, including Order Papers, Votes and Proceedings, committee reports and Acts passed by the National Assembly.
The Executive Secretary also announced plans for a Bills Tracker that would enable members of the public to monitor bills and follow their progress through the legislative process.
He said the library would organise public policy dialogues to promote greater citizen participation in public hearings and strengthen interaction between lawmakers, citizens, researchers and other stakeholders.
According to him, the initiatives would also help address inconsistencies in official parliamentary documents and curb the circulation of fake or unauthorised copies of National Assembly records.
Akpabio, Tajudeen stress importance of authentic records
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented at the event by Senator Osita Ngwu, urged lawmakers to make greater use of the National Assembly Library, particularly amid growing misinformation, disinformation and the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
Akpabio described the library as a critical link between evidence, knowledge and legislative decision-making, while calling for continued support for its development.
Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, said legislative records were essential to preserving Nigeria’s legislative history and strengthening democratic governance.
Tajudeen said the effectiveness of a legislature should be measured not only by the laws it enacts but also by how well it documents its activities, preserves institutional knowledge and makes such information accessible to future generations.
He added that technology and artificial intelligence could enhance legislative research, records preservation and access to information, but stressed that their adoption must be guided by accuracy, security and professional judgment.
Government expands access to information in local languages
The National Assembly’s proposed translation of laws is part of broader efforts by government institutions to make official information more accessible to Nigerians through indigenous languages.
In July 2026, the Office of the Tax Ombud announced plans to unveil a Taxpayer Bill of Rights translated into three major Nigerian languages to improve public awareness and help taxpayers understand and defend their rights.
The Federal Government has also introduced multilingual digital platforms aimed at reducing language and information barriers.
In May 2026, GovGuideNigeria, an AI-powered platform for accessing government information, was made available in English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba to help Nigerians access public information more easily.
