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Tag: Tajudeen Abbas

  • Speaker Abbas meets Tinubu over resident doctors’ strike

    Speaker Abbas meets Tinubu over resident doctors’ strike

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has met with President Bola Tinubu to discuss on the  strike embarked by the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) .

    Recalled that the Speaker had earlier on Monday met with the national leadership of NARD and pleaded with them to shelve their planned strike.

    During the meeting with the NARD leadership, the Speaker had appealed to the resident doctors to give the House leadship for two weeks period to find solutions to the issues raised.

    He equally promised to meet President Tinubu within 24 hours on the matter, and constituted an ad hoc committee chaired by the Leader of the House Prof. Julius Ihonvbere in the matter.

    In keeping to his promise, Speaker has met with President Tinubu yesterday night, where he briefed the president on the outcome of his meeting with the NARD leadership.

    Speaker equally pleaded with the president to wade into the matter with a view to addressing the issues raised by the resident doctors.

    However, despite the Speaker’s intervention, NARD embarked on an indefinite strike on Tuesday evening.

    He had directed the Ad- hoc committee to meet with all the stakeholders with a view to resolving the matter immediately.

    The panel has the immediate past Chairman of the 9th House Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Tanko Sununu as the deputy chairman, while all medical practitioners in the House were co-opted into the ad hoc committee.

  • Speaker Abbas unveils committees July 27 as members get official cars

    Speaker Abbas unveils committees July 27 as members get official cars

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas is to unveil committees and their chairmen to run the legislative agenda of the 10th Assembly on July 27.

    Also, members are to receive their official cars once the standing committees are constituted.

    There  has been intense lobby by lawmakers to chair what they described as “juicy committees “.

    Some of the juicy committee include: Appropriation, Army, Defence, Navy, FCT, Finance, Public, Air force, Police Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission among others.

    Abbas had on June 15, two days after his emergence as speaker, announced the constitution of seven special committees.

    The committee include: Internal Security Committee, Selection Committee, the Media Committee, Legislative Agenda, Rules and Business, Welfare and Ethics and Privileges Committee.

    Some of the lawmakers who were already appointed in the special committee, are lobbying to get a more juice committee.

    Rep. Khadijat Buka-Abba who heads the ad hoc committee on Media and Publicity said she would not want to come back as the chairman on Media and Publicity when the speaker finally unveils the standing committee.

    She said this while holding an interactive session with the House of Reps press corps in her residence on July 12.

    This may however not be unconnected with her experience in 2019 when she chaired the same committee on Media and Publicity.

    Speaking on the announcement of the committee, a source who does not want his name mentioned said the speaker would officially announced the name of committees and their chairmen on July 27

    In his word, ” The committee will come out on July 27, that is when the speaker will announce the committees.”

    In a related development, the lawmakers are bracing up to receive their official cars that would enable them carry out their legislative work and oversight function.

    Speaking about the lawmakers official cars, a lawmaker who sought to be anonimous said the car when it finally arrived would be for committee work.

    “Every members belongs to a committee, so those are official cars, those are cars the committee will use to work for oversight.

    “There are a lot of digging the media need to do because at the end of the term, we pay for these cars.

    ”Most time, if you want you pay, you buy on auction, and if you don’t want you return the cars.

    The lawmaker said contrary to insinuation, “we pay for some of these items, when they brought the invoice for me I rejected some of the items because there are things I don’t need.

    There are currently 57 standing committees in the Nigerian Senate, while the House of Representatives currently has 89 standing committees.

  • Reps demand upward review of salaries, allowances

    Reps demand upward review of salaries, allowances

    Members of the House of Representatives are demanding an upward review of their salaries and allowances, following the removal of fuel subsidy and the current economic situation in the country.

    The demand was the outcome of meeting the lawmakers had on July 11 after going into an executive session during plenary.

    The complain from members arising from salaries and allowances forced the House to go into executive session in order to douse tension.

    The lawmakers had also demanded from the Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, reason for the delay in the payment of their salaries and allowances, causing some of them to resort to loans.

    However, one of the lawmakers who was at the meeting but craved anonymity because he was not permitted to speak on the outcome of the executive session, dismissed the rumour.

    Refuting the speculations, the lawmaker said they only told the speaker that their salaries and allowances could no longer meet the demand of their job, hence a review was necessary.

    “So nobody talked about any money or whether we have been paid or not,” the lawmaker explained.

    The source said their request was sequel to the current economic reality following the subsidy removal which had caused hardship, making goods and services to skyrocket in the country.

    The lawmaker said though the speaker did not promise them anything on the review of their salaries and allowances, because such demand could only be accommodated in the budget after due processes.

    According to the legislator, the speaker however told his colleagues that their demsnd on review of their salaries and allowances were not in the 2023 budget.

    According to the source, the speaker cannot have promised anything, and that “we all know the situation in the country, we are all facing the same problem”.

    Meanwhile, to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, the House of Representatives received a communication from President Bola Tinubu on July 12, seeking an amendment to the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act.

    The amendment is to accommodate N500 billion for the provision of palliatives for Nigerians.

    In the letter, Tinubu said the request was necessary to enable the government provide palliatives for Nigerians to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy.

  • Speaker Abbas advocates UK pay standard for Nigerian workers

    Speaker Abbas advocates UK pay standard for Nigerian workers

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas has advocated review of salary for workers in the country.

    Abbas said this in a statement  by his Special  Adviser on Media and Publicity,  Musa Abdullahi Krishi  in Abuja on Monday.

    He said it was imperative to take a look at what an average worker  would need to be paid as salary in view of the current economic reality.

    He said there was need to come up with a living wage that would take care of the basics of a person such that he would not have to look outside his lawful income.

    Abbas urged government to take example of UK experiment and the Western world, adding that, “fundamentally, what they did was to sit down and look at what an average worker will need to be paid as salary.

    “Today, if you are a labourer in London, you will be paid enough for you to go and pay your rent, take care of your basics and still be able to have a fairly good living.

    “With that kind of incentive, you don’t need to go and borrow, you don’t need to go and beg, you don’t need to go and steal.”

    He said the current Nigerian situation was such that an average worker earned less than what somebody could use to buy fuel to fill his car tank.

    The Speaker further said that such individual with such burden would not be honest and transparent.

    “For us to wage a war on corruption, we need to create an enabling environment where each and every one of us will be able to operate transparently.

    This,  according to him,  is without having to steal, intimidate and having to go and beg or to borrow and that is the beginning of the reform.

    “If we can get the rule of law working, we will be able to work on the reforms necessary for fighting corruption.

    “In fighting corruption, we also need to create an enabling environment where an average worker should be able to earn enough to live with his family,” he said.

  • Speaker Abbas and the burden of polygamy – By Francis Ewherido

    Speaker Abbas and the burden of polygamy – By Francis Ewherido

    Many Nigerians watched in shock and/or amusement as the two wives of the new speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas were shoving each other in a battle for supremacy during the swearing in of their husband as the speaker of the 10th House of Representatives. It was not a pretty and comfortable sight.

    I do not know why, but I have always felt that only “strong” men should go into polygamy. I mean strong men in all ramifications: maintaining discipline on the home front, being able to satisfy all your wives sexually, being able to provide for all your wives and their children, etc. If you cannot, it better you marry only one wife. That is not to say there are no squabbles in monogamous homes, but there is no rivalry between wives because there is one wife. Besides my Christian faith, that is the other reason I am not a polygamist. I no get power to manage two or more women.

    I knew from an early age that I could manage only one wife. Realising my “weakness” early in life gave me a clear sense of direction. My father was a monogamist, but I did experience polygamy from afar, from neighbours and relatives. There were polygamous homes where there was law and order, and others that were like Armageddon: Half-siblings fought and injured each other, wives fought to finish. One wife bit the nipples of another wife. Another one almost bit off an ear of her co-wife. One strong wife beat up her husband mercilessly for taking sides with the other wife.

    But in the polygamous homes where there was law and order, discipline was palpable. Every wife knew her place in the hierarchy. Sometimes, seniority determined the place of the wives. In some other homes, it was based on favouritism. The amebo is the favourite wife, while avwiorovwen is the less favoured wife. amebo can spend a month with the husband, before the avwiorovwen gets a couple of days with the husband. I remember one particular avwiorovwen who was close to my mother. She could go for months without “seeing” her husband. Once her husband gave her the nod, she would gladly inform my mother that her husband had allocated “time” for her.

    I am informed that Islam does not encourage favouritism in polygamy. To marry more than one wife, you must have the capacity to love all the wives and treat them equally. I do not know how it works. Speaker Abass is a Muslim. He has to find a way to instil discipline on the home front and avoid allowing domestic squabbles to spill into the public space. He has many official functions to perform in his time as speaker. Thunder must not be allowed to strike at the same place again.

    What happened was a blight, but it will soon be forgotten because of the pace at which we are seeing breaking news. But there must never be a breaking news over Abbas’ domestic squabbles spilling into the public space again. Abass was elected to manage a 360-Member House of Reps. It is an enormous task and I believe his colleagues who elected him believe he has the capacity to carry out the task with distinction. But charity must begin at home by managing his two wives well.

    It is not as if monogamists do not have their own challenges or similar challenges. Not all monogamists can provide for their wives financially or satisfy their wives sexually. I have said it several times here that I have problems with polygamy. It is part of our culture, heritage and religion of some of us. I just do not subscribe to it. That’s all.  But I believe that those going into polygamy must be equal to the task. From my personal experience as a monogamist, managing one wife is heavy luggage. Additional wives means additional luggage. That is my view as an outsider.

    BUKAYO SAKA

    After the 2022-2023 English Premier League season ended, the first (I guess) port of call for Nigerian-born Arsenal Attacking winger, Bukayo Saka, was Lagos, Nigeria. After the photos of his arrival at the airport surfaced online, the next photos of his were in the streets of Bariga, Lagos. I am not sure of the connection, but some sources said his grandparents lived there and his father probably grew up there. We also saw his photos with his paternal grandparents in his state of origin, Kwara State. It was obvious that he came to connect with his roots.

    He also visited an orphanage in Lagos suburbs, but the video that touched me most was his visit to the National Stadium, Surulere. He met the youngsters playing football. They were apparently awe-struck and happy to see him. They shook hands and took selfies with him. Do you know the significance of that visit? From among those youngsters, new Sakas can arise, challenged and inspired by this visit. “So Saka is human after all. I am even bigger than he is. If he can do it, I too can,” a few might say to themselves.

    From the football pitch, he went to the section where physically challenged athletes were training. They were overjoyed to see him. He also shook hands and gladly took selfies with them. Their joy was palpable. As I watched the video, the question that came to my mind was, how much does it really cost to put smiles on people’s faces and spread joy? Sometimes, it costs absolutely nothing. Saka might have donated sports kits and cash gifts. The kits would become too old and be discarded someday, and the cash will not last forever. That is even if some of them have not finished spending theirs. But the joy he gave them and the memories will linger on.

    By the way, some people were asking why he was taking photos in Bariga and not highbrow Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Banana Island. If you know Saka since he broke out in Arsenal, his common traits are humility, being real and down to earth. Former Arsenal Captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, said that much when Saka was just breaking out in Arsenal.

    Saka was clear-headed when coming to Nigeria: to connect with his roots and give back to society. He did not come to show the world that Nigeria has many beautiful places. Saka is thoroughbred, focused, humble and levelheaded. He will go places. His parents did a great job. Go Saka; go, boy. Thanks for coming. Go back and tell the other players that you guys need to work harder to win the league in the 2023-24 season. It will not be easy to displace Manchester City and keep the rest of the pack behind us, but it is doable. After all, we are gunners.

  • Speaker Abbas pledges to collaborate with other arms for good governance

    Speaker Abbas pledges to collaborate with other arms for good governance

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas has pledged to work with the Executive and Judiciary to deliver good governance for the benefit of all Nigerians.

    Abbas made the pledge in his acceptance speech after his emergence as speaker on Tuesday in Abuja.

    “Under my watch, the 10th house shall sustain and even surpass the gains of the ninth  house. That is my prayer.

    “We shall carry out the task before us jointly. We shall introduce reforms and innovations for the benefit of Nigerians.

    “In a few weeks, we shall be reeling out the legislative agenda that will shape the 10th house of representatives.

    “We shall work closely and inter-dependently with the executive and judiciary to give Nigerians the good governance they deserve,” he said.

    According to him, we stand at a crucial juncture in our nation’s history, where challenges abound but so do opportunities.

    He said the  house would champion legislations that would uplift the lives of fellow citizens, promote social justice, and drive sustainable development.

    The speaker said the house would focus on strengthening security apparatus and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to combat insurgency, terrorism, and all forms of criminalities.

    Abbas said  the  house would aim to help create a safe and secure environment that would  foster economic growth and social stability.

    “Through legislations, the 10th house will promote entrepreneurship and support small and medium-scale enterprises.

    “We shall diversify our economy and provide sustainable employment opportunities for our youth.

    “We are aware of the challenges in our education, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors amongst other.

    “We will work in harmony with the executive arm, while upholding principles of checks and balances.

    “Our collaboration will be anchored on the principles of transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law,” he said.

    Abbas said  the victory at the polls was not just for him but for all the members and all Nigerians.

    According to him, it is about honouring the trust that has been placed on us and working tirelessly to deliver on our promises of good governance and effective representation.

    Abbas said the mandate bestowed on him as speaker would not be taken for granted,  assuring members that he would be  just and fair to everyone  irrespective of political party and perceived differences.

    He promised to run an open-door policy for all members and all Nigerians irrespective of political party or creed.

    He congratulated his predecessor, Mr  Femi Gbajabiamila and prayed for his  success in his new office as Chief of Staff to the President.

  • Meet the 10th Speaker of House of Reps: What you need to know about Tajudeen Abbas

    Meet the 10th Speaker of House of Reps: What you need to know about Tajudeen Abbas

    Hon. Tajudeen Abbas on Tuesday emerged as the Speaker of House of Representatives of the 10th National Assembly (NASS).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Abbas emerged as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, following inauguration of the 10th Assembly.

    Abbas emerged Speaker unopposed after two speakership aspirants, Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gagdi stepped down from the race.

    Abbas was the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Speakership position

    Who is Abbas?

    Abbas is the member representing Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

    Abbas comes from the Zazzau Emirate. He is a prince from the emirate and holds the tradional title of the Iyan Zazzau.

    Based on the tradition, he is in line of succession to become the Emir of Zazzau. He had a distinguished career in both public and private sectors before coming to the House.

    The Zazzau prince had been a primary school teacher and later became a polytechnic and university lecturer. He was the pioneer head, Department of Accounting and Finance, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria between 1989 and 1993.

    He also pioneered the Department of Business Administration at the same institution in 2001 before joining the Kaduna State University (KASU), where he established the Department of Accounting as the pioneer HoD in 2005.

    The new speaker had worked at the Nigerian Tobacco Distribution Company, now British-American Tobacco Company between 1993 and 1996.

    He quit the academia and joined politics in 2010, where he contested for the House of Reps seat for Zaria Federal Constituency and won.

    In the 8th Assembly – between 2015 and 2019 – he held the record of a single member that sponsored the highest number of bills in the entire National Assembly.

    When he returned to the 9th House – from 2019 to date – Tajudeen Abbas singlehandedly sponsored record breaking 74 bills, out of which 21 were signed into law.

  • BREAKING: APC candidate, Tajudeen Abbas elected Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives

    BREAKING: APC candidate, Tajudeen Abbas elected Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives

    …as he wins over two-third majority votes

    Hon. Tajudeen Abbas from Zaria federal constituency of Kaduna State has emerged winner of the Speakership contest of the 10th House of Representatives.

    Abbas has gotten over two third votes from 358 Members-elect on the floor of the House.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls the ruling All Progressive Congress APC had chosen Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon Benjamin Kalu as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House respectively.

    But this did not go down with other contenders called the G7 who vowed to continue in the contest. But members of the G7 had one after the other dropped their aspiration as Speaker of the 10th Assembly, due to pressure, counsel or personal conviction.

    Two days ago Hon. Betara and Hon. Yusuf Gagdi had after meeting with President Bola Tinubu, stated that they would not be continuing with their desire to be Speaker of 10th Assembly.

    Two members of the G7 Hon. Ahmed Wase and Hon. Aminu Jaji continue in the race for speakership, making the total numbers of nominees 3.

    The process commenced before 10am as the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, joined by the Clerk of the House presided over the session.

    The DCNA took the roll call for all 359 Members-elect after which he called for nomination of candidates for the position of Speaker of the 10th House.

    First Ado Doguwa nominated Tajudeen Abbas, while another lawmaker from Kwara state nominated Ahmed Idris and Hon Doro nominated Aminu Jaji fort he position of Speaker.

    The three contestants accepted the nomination, after which the DCNA closed the nomination and proceeded to conduct the election which he said would be open ballot according to the amended House rule.

    The house adopted the open ballot method as enshrined in its amended House rule that states that when there are more than two nominations each member-elect shall openly declare his/her candidates of choice for the position of Speaker.

    As the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlami, called the Members-elect begining from Abia state, Tajudeen Abbas was mentioned.

    The states were Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Zamfara, states and the Federal Capital Territory all voted Tajudeen Abbas for speaker of the 10th House.

    About 4 members dared to go against the party’s choice of Abba, as they voted Idris Wase or Aminu Jaji respectively.

    While Sani Jaji got 3 votes, Idris Ahmed Wase got 2 votes.

  • Speakership: Progressives Governors endorse Abbas, Kalu

    Speakership: Progressives Governors endorse Abbas, Kalu

    … supporting APC’s choice a wise decision, Imo Gov tells Members-Elect

     

    The chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, and executive Governor of Imo State, South East Nigeria, Senator Hope Uzodinma has said that the Forum has resolved to back the choice of the party for the Speakership and Deputy Speakership positions of the incoming 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu Esq..

    The Governor made the disclosure when he hosted the campaign team of the Abbas/Kalu joint ticket, led by the Joint Task –10th Assembly Coalition at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge on Monday evening in Asokoro Abuja.

    He said the party has made the best choice of presiding officers for the House and the least the Governors should do is to ensure that the party’s preference and vision is actualized come June 13th.

    The Governor commended members of the coalition who are drawn from the 8 political parties that won seats in the 10th House, saying they made the right decision to support the joint ticket.

    “I congratulate you once more for the success you achieve in the last election and to commend you for coming together to form an alliance towards the speakership race. You have taken a good decision to support these two gentlemen. What we are practicing today is democracy and APC is the ruling party and you have a responsibility now to help the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed, and we all know that the most sensitive arm of government is the legislature and if we make a mistake with it the other two arms will be affected.

    “If the parliament is right, the government will be right, and I want to urge you to reach out to those who are aggrieved to persuade them to see the reason to agree with us. When you have a situation such as this, you will tell others your party is the best and in this instance, APC is in the majority and we have to demonstrate maturity by forging a common front in unity.

    He urged aggrieved aspirants to close ranks with the party’s preferred candidates and work together to determine a purposeful legislature capable of promoting and projecting the overall interest of Nigerians, adding that Abbas’ choice by the party was not an imposition.

    “There’s no such thing as imposition, it’s for the benefits of all of us, and the synergy will help us to achieve more for our people back home. If you say that it means you’re willing and ready to disagree with the majority including the government. We know you have the power of appropriation, but when you appropriate, what about cashbacking?

    “You certainly don’t want to go home after four years and tell your people you couldn’t achieve anything because you were not co-operating with the executive for their benefit, but when you work in harmony, you will reap the benefits of the cooperation and your people back home will be the better for it,” the Governor admonished.

    Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, the Governor said himself and his colleagues have resolved to demonstrate maturity and work with the choice of the party, saying that the duo of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu represent the best in the present circumstance.

    He said the National Assembly is not about what zone produces a presiding officer, but about who’s capable of handling the dynamic of current socioeconomic situations the masses have found themselves in, and that the progressive governors forum is confident that Hon. Abbas and Kalu will deliver to Nigerians the kind of legislature that engenders economic rejuvenation of the masses, social infrastructure such as quality schools, healthcare and security using instrumentality of laws that they will pass.

    Earlier, the APC Speakership candidate and his Deputy, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, as well as the South East Zonal chairman of Joint Task – 10th Assembly, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji who is of the PDP commended the Governor for hosting the team and assuring them of the colleagues’ resolve to support the project.

    They reiterated their readiness to ensure a united 10th Assembly and work towards actualizing the programmes and policies of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration, bearing in mind the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

    Specifically, Hon Abbas expressed confidence in the ability of the Progressive Governors to ensure that the team as endorsed by the party is delivered come June 13th, adding that the hope of the common man rests on it as far as productive representation is concerned.

    The Deputy speakership candidate, Hon. Benjamin Kalu in his comment thanked Governor Uzodinma for throwing his weight behind the ticket, saying that he trusts in his love for the parliament, being a product of the legislature himself.

    Kalu explained that his candidature wasn’t an individual recognition, but a mandate of the entire South East, to be on the new team of leaders upon whom the task of providing positive change in the lives of Nigerians has been entrusted.

  • Abbas hails Govs Mohammed, Fubara on emergence as PDP govs chair, vice chair

    Abbas hails Govs Mohammed, Fubara on emergence as PDP govs chair, vice chair

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the speakership position in the incoming 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas has congratulated the governors of Bauchi and Rivers States, Bala Mohammed and Siminalayi Fubara, on their emergence as the chairman and the vice chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.

    Abbas said he was elated that the two leaders were elected by their colleagues to pilot the affairs of the PDP Governors Forum, which is a testament of their leadership qualities and readiness to serve the people.

    In a statement from his campaign office, the lawmaker, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, said he was convinced that the two governors would give their best in their new assignment.

    He lauded the combination of Gov. Bala Mohammed and Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, saying not only are they deserving of their new positions but they are also a perfect match for the task ahead of them.

    The speakership candidate noted with joy the contributions of the two governors to nation-building, which he urged them to sustain and work with their colleagues from the other political parties to put Nigeria first.

    While wishing them success in their assignment, Rt. Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas (PhD) called on their colleagues both in PDP and other political parties to give them the maximum support to succeed.

    Signed:

    Rt. Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas Campaign Office