Tag: Abbas Tajudeen

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of an aviation expert, Captain Shehu Usman Iyal.

Capt. Iyal, a one-time presidential adviser on aviation matters and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of AFRI-AIR International Ltd, died on Thursday.

Speaker Abbas, who described the late Capt. Iyal as an aviation czar who served his fatherland diligently and patriotically, said the late CEO of AFRI-AIR would be sorely missed.

The Speaker recalled how the late Capt. Iyal dedicated himself to the service of humanity — supporting the less-privileged and the orphans, offering a helping hand to those around him, as well as engaging in other charitable activities.

Speaker Abbas prayed to Allah to have mercy on the soul of the late aviation expert and reward him with Jannatul Firdaus.

Late Captain Shehu Iyal graduated from the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in 1977. He also attended Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria (formerly Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre) in 1982.

He was at the Rogers Aviation, Bedford, United Kingdom, where he obtained certification as Assistant Flying Instructor Rating (Procedures) in 1982. Furthermore, he subsequently left to the Air Wing of the Nigeria Police Force.

An alumnus of the London Business School, where he studied Aviation Management, late Capt. Iyal held a Commercial Pilot License and Private Pilot License, culminating in an extensive flying experience of over 3,000 hours, including fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

He was the pioneer Commander of the Air Border Patrol Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Kaduna in 1987. He was seconded to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in the Presidency upon his return from the London Business School.

Late Capt. Iyal founded the AFRI-AIR International — an aviation handling company, which offers aviation consultancy services — in 2001, serving as its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

He had served Special Assistant and Senior Special Assistant on Aviation Matters to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in addition to being a one-time chairman of the Presidential Implementation and Monitoring Committee (PIMC), Hub development of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Presidential Committee on Improvement of Airport Security and Drug Related Problems.

He was also a board member of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and chairperson of its aviation committee.

…assures of support for reforms

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has called for reforms in the economy, especially with the bottlenecks in the import and export chain in the maritime sector.

While addressing a delegation of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) at his office on Wednesday, the Speaker decried that Nigeria is losing huge revenue to the neighbouring West-African countries due to administrative issues at the borders.

Speaker Abbas assured PEBEC that the House will attend to the reforms sought by the council, especially regarding the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) Act enforcement and the fate of investors at the Free Trade Zones under the Tax Reform Bills.

The Speaker said: “I feel really sad that we in Nigeria, in some areas, are doing things differently. Even from our neighbours here in West Africa, I hear complaints about customs bureaucracy, clearance… I hear about the shipping industry, ports regulatory authorities… all these are taking so long to provide… and the costs of even bringing in products to Nigeria – in some instances doubling what they collect (as duty) in our neighbouring countries.

“I think those are serious and major areas that your agency (PEBEC) needs to actually pay attention to. There is so much you can do by looking at our regulatory bodies, particularly those that are responsible for international businesses and trade, and see what you can do to make the Nigerian environment more competitive.”

Speaker Abbas raised the alarm of reports that countries are avoiding shipment to Nigeria, noting that some reports say over 75 percent of imported goods offloaded in Benin Republic are actually meant for Nigerian destinations.

The Speaker also recalled his recent visit to Morocco, where officials of the North African country criticised the bureaucracy and delay in the import and export chain between Nigeria and Morocco.

While stating that addressing the issues in the shipping system will be a win-win for the Nigerian Government and foreign investors, Speaker Abbas said the House would look at the issues raised by PEBEC and “we will take action immediately.”

The Speaker noted that the presentation by PEBEC was timely as the Senate and the House just constituted a Conference Committee on the Tax Reform Bills to harmonise the versions passed by the two chambers. He said the House would invite the council and chairman of the committee to review the proposals.

Speaker Abbas stated that the reviews would be done to enable Nigeria to respect the previous agreements signed with foreign investors in the Free Trade Zones.

He said: “You (PEBEC) have come to the right place. This is the House where we have been reforming the way we do things from Day 1. That is why our Legislative Agenda is the best working document ever crafted in the history of the parliament.”

While noting that every ministry, department and agency (MDA) has an issue that begs for attention, especially of the parliament, Speaker Abbas thanked PEBEC for finding the House worthy to present its challenges in solving problems.

He disclosed that he receives complaints “every day from the private sector, foreign investors complaining of bottlenecks” in every facet of the nation’s economic life.

The Speaker commended PEBEC for monitoring the MDAs towards creating an enabling environment for businesses in the country. He noted that the business environment is challenging while the areas of concern are many as “every sector and every agency has issues that beg for attention.”

He said: “I want to assure you on behalf of all the members that we are ready and willing to do everything humanly possible to support you so that you can succeed,” he said.

Speaker Abbas said he was excited by the youths dominating PEBEC, with most members of the delegation being under 40.

Earlier, the Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zara Mustapha Audu, said the visit to the Speaker was on behalf of the Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, who is the chairman of PEBEC.

She noted that PEBEC supervises 69 MDAs with mandates relating to the economy.

While she presented a letter from the Office of the Vice-President to Speaker Abbas, Audu sought legislative intervention of the House regarding the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), saying there have been pushbacks in the economic environment over implementation of the new FRCN Act.

She particularly noted a stand-off between the FRCN and operators in the private sector.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said the 10th House has been proactive and productive since its inauguration almost two years ago.

Speaker Abbas also noted that the Legislative Agenda of the 10th, with far-reaching and ambitious proposals and targets, has produced results.

The Speaker made this known in Abuja on Monday at the inaugural Policy Dialogue on the Legislative Agenda of the House, which had top government officials and organisations at the federal and state levels in attendance. The private sector and the diplomatic corps were also represented.

The event was organised by the Office of the Speaker in conjunction with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF), and the UK International Development.

Speaker Abbas said: “Two years later, I am proud to report that these efforts have yielded results. In terms of legislative output, this House has been extraordinarily proactive and productive. We have introduced a record number of bills and a volume of legislative proposals that is unprecedented at this stage of any assembly.

“More important than quantity, however, is the impact: these bills and motions are geared towards the critical reforms our country urgently needs. Already, many of the significant bills that we passed have received presidential assent.”

The Speaker said the dialogue is “a clear demonstration of our shared effort to promote parliamentary accountability, transparency, and a truly citizen-driven legislature.”

While recalling how the 10th pledged to regularly engage with Nigerians, report on its performance, and adjust its course based on the people’s feedback, the Speaker noted that the dialogue is part of that promise, “serving as a precursor to the upcoming Open NASS Week, where we open our doors to scrutiny and present our midterm progress.”

Speaker Abbas emphasised that the goal of the event is not only to celebrate the House’s achievements but also to candidly examine areas for improvement in the spirit of openness and democratic inclusion. He said that as the House prepares to mark the midpoint of its tenure, it is significant to reflect on its journey so far.

He said: “When the 10th House was inaugurated in June 2023, Nigeria faced significant challenges. The economy was weak, and there were pressing development and security crises. The populace was understandably frustrated and lost hope in democracy’s ability to meet their aspirations. This was followed by the shock of the removal of fuel subsidies, which exacerbated economic hardships and increased public anxiety. We recognised that extraordinary times required an extraordinary response from the legislature.

“Therefore, from the onset, the House dedicated itself to creating and implementing the most ambitious legislative agenda in our history. Designed to deliver good governance, this agenda aims to restore hope in democracy for our people.”

Speaker Abbas pointed out that the Legislative Agenda was not crafted in isolation but a product of extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including ministries and agencies, civil society, and development partners. He recalled how the House produced a comprehensive roadmap to guide its law-making, oversight, and representation from 2023 to 2027.

The Speaker stressed that the House took special care to align its priorities with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, ensuring synergy between the legislative and executive arms of government.

“Thus, our agenda embodies collaborative governance by engaging in dialogue with the Executive. This approach allows us to fulfil our independent mandate while ensuring that our legislative actions support national objectives and address the pressing needs of our citizens,” he stated.

Speaker Abbas explained that the agenda encompasses eight broad priority areas that address Nigeria’s diverse needs. These include strengthening good governance, enhancing national security, revitalising the economy, reforming our laws, and promoting social development. It also advocates for inclusion through an open parliament, directs foreign policy in the national interest, and tackles climate and environmental sustainability.

He said: “Never has a House of Representatives set such an expansive and forward-looking legislative blueprint. The impact the 10th House has made thus far is largely due to the deliberate, strategic, and focused execution of this agenda. We have remained focused and resilient in pursuing these goals, even when unforeseen issues arose.

“We backed our plan with concrete implementation strategies. Each House committee integrated the agenda into its work plans; we established clear milestones and key performance indicators to track progress, and we set up special committees to monitor and evaluate how well we are meeting our targets.

“We also insisted on better communication and regular reporting, which included requiring members to maintain functional constituency offices and report on their engagement with the public, ensuring accountability at every step.”

He added: “Crucially, our agenda was designed with the flexibility to respond to emerging crises. This means that even as new challenges have arisen, we have adapted swiftly without losing sight of our long-term goals. In short, we did not simply announce an ambitious agenda and hope for the best; we put in place the mechanisms and political will to implement it.”

When it comes to representation, Speaker Abbas stated that the members have endeavoured to make the 10th House “a citizen-driven legislature in practice, not just in words.” He said: “In every major endeavour, we have actively sought the people’s voice.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has lost one of his mothers-in-law, Hajiya Rahmatu Bello Mukaddas.

Hajiya Rahmatu, who was the mother to Hajiya Hussaina — the Speaker’s first wife — passed away on Thursday night, aged 85.

She was buried at the Tukur-Tukur cemetery in Zaria after Jumma’at prayers.

Speaker Abbas attended the burial alongside the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa, some district heads from the Zazzau Emirate, clerics, among many others.

The Speaker described the late Hajiya Rahmatu as a woman of virtue who was a mother to all, noting that she spent her life uplifting the lives of others.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of our mother, Hajiya Rahmatu Bello Mukaddas, who was more than a mother-in-law to me.

“She lived a virtuous life worthy of emulation. Not only was she a peacemaker, she was also a symbol of unity. She lives behind a legacy of selflessness, tolerance, and love,” the Speaker said.

Speaker Abbas prayed to Allah (SWT) to accept the soul of the late Hajiya Rahmatu Bello Mukaddas and make Jannatul Firdaus her final abode.