From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has noted that one key area in which the House of Representatives Speaker, Rt Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, has excelled beyond measure is Constituency Service.
The Governor pointed out that the House Speaker not only represents his people well, but also ‘’attracts major interventions to his constituency and expends his resources to put smiles on the faces of the people.’’
Governor Uba Sani made the commendations in his closing remarks at an event organised to celebrate the Speaker’s two years of remarkable representation at the Federal University of Education, Zaria on Saturday.
‘’In consultation and close collaboration with me, Mr. Speaker has extended development interventions beyond his constituency. He has intervened to support the government in providing vehicles to traditional rulers, and is bringing development projects to all the 23 Local Government Areas in the State,’’ he disclosed.
The Governor maintained that his administration has ‘’ramped up our Rural Transformation Programme. We are extending infrastructure to all parts of Kaduna State. No part of Kaduna State will be left behind.
We have recorded massive achievements in our health, educational, and agricultural revitalization programmes. We have stabilized the security situation in many communities.
‘’Our ongoing social investment programmes have lifted many of our citizens out of poverty. We shall continue to create, innovate, and effectively execute policies and programmes to make Kaduna State a development model in Nigeria,’’ he added.
Governor Uba Sani noted that Speaker Abbas has remained a stabilizing force in the House of Representatives, with his inclusive and participatory approach to leadership.
According to him, members are focused on people-centred bills to address our economic and developmental challenges ‘’instead of the proverbial “banana peels.’’
Before giving his remarks, the Governor had asked the gathering to observe a minute’s silence in honour of the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, who died in the early hours of Saturday at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at 94 years.
Presenting his scorecard, Speaker Abbas said that in the last 14 years, ‘’I sponsored more bills than any other legislator in Nigeria’s history. In the 9th Assembly, I sponsored 74 bills, 21 of which received the president’s assent. This is the highest number recorded for any legislator since Nigeria’s independence.’’
As Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas said that he has done everything within his power to justify the trust placed in him by his peers in the last two years.
‘’Here in Zaria, we have established new institutions for agriculture, veterinary science, technical education, and disability inclusion. We have expanded secondary two education, launched a N5 billion scholarship scheme for over ten thousand students, and constructed an N80 billion Education Village hosting university, nursing, teaching, and legal studies campuses.
‘’We have improved teacher welfare in rural areas, renovated schools, empowered women and youth through vocational centres, upgraded tertiary infrastructure, delivered vital community projects such as boreholes, solar lighting, and maternity care, and honoured our traditional institutions with vehicles to support their unifying role,’’ he added.
To mark his second anniversary, the House Speaker flagged off the distribution of fertiliser and motorcycles, as well as commissioned the Barewa Junction to Agoro Underpass along with Governor Uba Sani.
Other projects that were commissioned include the road from Kofar Doka to Agoro and the breaking ground for a Technology Incubation Centre at BATC Nagoyi, as well as the commencement of the construction of Primary and Secondary Schools for Children With Special Needs at ABUTH Child Hospital.
