News
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and His Tri-sector Leadership Effects

By Ahmed Musa Baba
It has been seven months since the inauguration of the 10th House of Representatives with Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, as the Speaker, and Members of the House, as well as Nigerians whom they represent can see the shifting paradigm of a progressive and people-centred representation in the way and manner the House has handled its affairs so far.
Not only have members striven to sustain the tempo established by the 9th House under former speaker and now Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Ghajabiamila, in terms of sponsorship of bills, an area which the current Speaker stands tall as a pace-setter with a total of 74, out of which 21 were signed into law; they have done so with zeal as a total of 962 bills have so far been introduced with 120 of them passing the second reading stage.
The period also saw the passage of 500 motions and resolutions with a total of 153 petitions received and referred for legislative actions, just as they have also spared no time in ensuring that all important processes of helping the government of the day achieve its dreams of renewing the people’s hope are dealt with expeditiously.
The House, despite the delay in the presentation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Papers (FSP), which usually precedes the appropriation bill from the Executive arm, ensured efforts were expended at meeting all necessary legal deadlines in their passage, including the 2024 Appropriation Act. This meant that the House had to reconvene on Saturday, 30th December 2023 to consider the budget report and pass same for presidential assent, all in the spirit of sustaining the national budget cycle of January to December, which was painstakingly entrenched by the 9th Assembly.
Efforts by the House under Speaker Abbas Tajudeen can best be described as the literal definition of hitting the ground running from day one. The Speaker, having emerged through popular demand with massive support across party lines, came prepared for leadership, applying what in the words of the Chairman House Committee on Defence, Hon. Jimi Benson, is known as ‘tri-sector approach.’
According to a New Impact thread on perplexity, an AI search engine application, “tri-sector leaders are individuals who can navigate across sectors and enable everyone to rise above real differences, find common purpose, and get big things done.”
It posited further that “tri-sector leadership is essential for addressing large-scale problems that require collaboration between the business, government, and nonprofit sectors.”
Key aspects of tri-sector leadership according to the thread include, First, adopting a mindset that understands the interconnectedness of the public, private, and social sectors, and recognizes opportunities to innovate and solve pressing problems. These, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, has demonstrated cultivating a rich network of resources through collaboration with international development partners, civil society groups and the public.
Second, involving community stakeholders from nonprofits, governments, and the community at large to identify needs and promote an understanding of tri-sector strategies was brought to bare when the Speaker prevailed on his colleagues to subject the 2024 Appropriation Bill to public deliberation and analysis for necessary inputs at a town hall on December 4th, 2023.
Several civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, professional bodies, chief executives in the public and private sectors, as well as student unions, who were represented at the event, expressed their views.
Speaker Abbas, at the event, said: “Your participation in this town hall meeting underscores the essence of democracy – the power of the people to engage actively in governance and decision-making processes.
“You are invited to closely examine the 2024 budget proposal as presented to the National Assembly by Mr. President. As representatives of the people, it is our duty to ensure that the annual appropriation reflects the needs and aspirations of every Nigerian citizen.
“I wish to reassure all Nigerians that the President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the National Assembly are committed to addressing these hardships,” he said.
Third, education and training: Training the next generation of leaders to see opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings and begin asking key questions about emerging governance models and the rationale for their development. Speaker Abbas has, despite his busy legislative schedule, continued to create time to deliver lectures at different fora, including to young aspiring leaders in training with the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), founded by his predecessor, Gbajabiamila.
Speaker Abbas at the Meet and Greet session with the second cohorts of the initiative on December 14, 2023 said: “My deepest gratitude goes to my predecessor, who initiated this mentorship programme as a way of exposing younger ones into the legislative tradition of our nation.
“I pledge the resolve of the 10th House to sustain this laudable initiative and strengthen it even further. We will continue to identify with the initiative, expand it and provide all necessary support to institutionalise it even beyond the 10th House. As I look forward to witnessing your growth and contributions to our nation’s governance, I urge you to make the most use of this rare opportunity.”
While taking his time to answer pressing questions from the young minds, the Speaker also insisted on having one-on-one photo sessions with each member of the cohorts and their operations team during which he interacted with each of them with the pledge to facilitate meetings with their representatives in the House.
Fourth, a listening and accessible leader:
The accessibility rate of the Speaker can be said to be second to none, both to his colleagues in the Legislature, the bureaucratic and his personal staff, as well as external guests. The speaker rises early and retires late due to the multitude of engagements, attending to individuals and groups on official or personal matters. The official guest house, which should ordinarily be his safe haven away from stress, is more of an annex of the National Assembly where those who can’t catch him in the office troop to for his attention.
Fifth, Principled, Compassionate and generous: For those who have come in close contact with the Iyan Zazzau, they can attest to the fact that he embodies the above attributes and even more. The Speaker represents the old chip of the block who demands that things are done right in accordance with the rules governing them, and that cutting corners through dishonest means are totally abhored. He minced no word telling his staff to always do their best to imbibe the culture of honesty and forthrightness at all times.
On his part, the Speaker has demonstrated immense credibility by keeping his promise to prioritize the welfare needs of his staff beyond expectations. Not only that, despite limited available resources, official needs of various units are supported to enable them achieve set goals.
The Speaker’s work ethics and selfless act of attending to all and sundry were aptly captured by Hon. Benson during a podcast session with the Speaker’s Media team in December 2023:
“I think we’ve been very blessed with great speakers, Dogara was a great Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila took it a notch higher, our present Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas came in with a toga; they call him Billiaminu, because he did something unprecedented here by sponsoring the passage of 74 bills. So he comes with a bag of experience.
“I call him a trisector athlete. He’s got traditional experience from being part of the Zazzau Emirate council as the Iyan Zazzau. There’s a form of wisdom that comes with that. He’s been a teacher all his life; there’s a form of wisdom that comes with that, he’s also a Ph.D holder, and that also comes with intellectual wisdom. So, when you combine the three, you have what is called an Emerap (a battle or armored personnel carrier that can do a whole lot of things on the battle field).
“With that, he’s added so much value to the legislative process; he’s commanded the troops well; he’s very witty, assertive, very knowledgeable and a man of wisdom; an academic who has a broad knowledge of the economy and where Nigeria ought to be. He’s thoroughly keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, and he’s also loved by Mr. president.”
Ahmed Musa Baba is the Special Assistant on Print Media to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D and writes from Abuja.
News
CUPP lampoon Reps over move to investigate Ugochinyere, others for visit to Fubara

**Calls for reversal of the ill-informed Move by the House of reps
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has Condemned the attempt by the House of Representatives to refer Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and other members to the Committee On Ethics for probe over their Solidarity Visit to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Fifty members of the House of Representatives hadq paid a solidarity visit to the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to celebrate his one year in office.
The lawmakers, who consist of members of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Labour Party ( LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) also include the spokesman of opposition coalition, in the House, Ikenga Ugochinyere..
Ugochinyere had explained on the sideline of the thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt that federal lawmakers were in Rivers to solidarilize with Fubara and celebrate with him on his one year of transformational leadership.
But the House had referred the Honourable members to the Committee on Ethics for disciplinary action over their visit
However, the chairman,
Media Committee of the
Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Chief Barr. Chukwudi Ezeobika in a statement has tackled the leadership of the House for the action which he said clearly cast doubt on its integrity in the observance and or adherence to the laws which they enact/promulgate.
“Relying on the point of order/ privilege raised by Yusuf Gagdi of the All Progressives Congress, Plateau State to arrive at such decision is erroneous and grossly misleading.
“The House, by this very action, has impugned on the integrity and sacredness of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) especially Sections 39 and 40 which guarantee Freedom of Expression and the Press as well as that of Peaceful Assembly and Association respectively.
“We, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), hereby call on the leadership of the House of Representatives to, without further delay retract its ongoing steps in the purported probe of these Honourable members by its Ethics Committee and not engage in any act that may violate the fundamental rights of its members or any member of the public.
News
Kano Police counter reports that Emir Bayero will lead Jumma’t prayer

the Kano State Police Command has countered reports that Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano, where Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, Emir of Kano, leading prayer at the moment.
The reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, have been laying claim to the throne, creating confusion in the city.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had dethroned Ado Bayero and asked him to hand over within 48 hours.
But the dethroned monarch in defiance returned to the town under military protection and has been operating from the mini palace since then.
In a statement by Abdullahi Kiyawa, spokesman of Kano Police Command, said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.
“The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property.”
The emirate tussle has continued to linger since the reinstatement of Sanusi and dissolution of the five emirates.
There have been cnflicting court orders for and against
Based on the conflicting orders, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, had summoned the head of the Federal High high Court and Kano Chief Judge.
The Police statement reads,
KANO STATE POLICE COMMAND
31ST MAY, 2024
The Kano State Police Command is hereby advising all residents to disregard the false information circulating on social media that Emir Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano.
2. The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.
3. The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.
4. Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property.
SP ABDULLAHI HARUNA KIYAWA, ANIPR, MNISMA,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATONS OFFICER,
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, KANO STATE COMMAND.
News
Royal turbulence gets messier as emirs Sanusi II, Bayero move to hold prayer at Palace Mosque

As the royal turbulence continue to shake the foundation of the city of Kano, the ancient city is tension soaked as the two contending Emirs- the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, have indicated their determination to hold Jumaat prayers at the Palace Central Mosque.
A press statement issued Thursday night, signed by Danburan Kano, Munir Sanusi Bayero, spelt out the itinerary of the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II to the Mosque to lead the Jumaat Prayers.
The statement explained that Emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, who resides in the Palace, and is closer to the contending Mosque, is expected to lead the two rakat Friday prayers.
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II has been leading the Jumaat Prayers at the Palace Central Mosque as the Amir of the City, a statement explained.
The statement by Danburan invited Kano residents to come and listen to the sermon to be delivered by the Emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II.
However, another statement from an aide of the deposed Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero invited residents to join him at the Emir’s Palace Friday Mosque to observe the Juma’at prayer.
It stated that the movement to the Emir’s Palace Mosque starts at 12.30 pm.
However, the police are yet to comment on the development.
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