2 weeks Ago By AHMED MUSA BABA
In Nigeria of today, there are very few people in positions of authorities whose primary aims of acquiring power aren’t for self-aggrandizement and the quest to have unrestricted access to the commonwealth, with a view to oppressing others as well as advancing their personal political/economic ambitions in life — as against the fading guiding principles of the founding fathers of our Republic. However, the leadership disposition currently being exhibited by the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives Rt. Hon.
Abbas Tajudeen Ph.D, GCON, is helping to change the narrative toward people oriented governance, reminiscent of the likes of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir. Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, Mallam Aminu Kano and other great politicians from northern Nigeria based on historical accounts.
For someone who wasn’t interested in fighting battles and making enemies in order to attain his position, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen has, by implication and conduct, demonstrated an admirable level of leadership preparedness that is holding Nigerians spellbound given his relatively private political profile prior to June 2023. His policies have redefined leadership, humility, transparency and accountability to his colleagues and Nigerians on the one hand, and effective representation of his people of Zaria Federal Constituency on the other. The Speaker, by his rising performance index, has become the pride of not just the Zazzau Emirate where he is a prince, but a bright shining northern star in the political leadership of today’s Nigeria.
His selfless approach to leadership within the House has helped to unite colleagues — who at inauguration represented seven different political parties with over 200 of them coming to the House for the first time. But the Speaker has through his belief in team work for national development given every one a sense of belonging by carrying them along in the scheme of things. Under his leadership, the House has redefined citizenship engagements using various platforms to interact with Nigerians of all demography and communicating the workings of the House, the action plan through the Legislative Agenda, the progress made so far and the things that are still to come.
On the home front, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who holds the royal title of Iyan Zazzau, has given and is still giving the people of Zaria Federal Constituency many things to cheer about as their worthy son and representative in the National Assembly. His attraction of different democratic dividends has prompted a slogan of ‘Iyan Zazzau Alheri Ne”, meaning Iyan Zazzau is a blessing. The Speaker has since assuming his position tripled his prioritisation of the social, political, economic, educational welfare, as well as the physical development of the ancient city of Zaria through laudable constituency projects, economic empowerment and various interventions in the education sector.
Social welfare: Speaker Abbas since 2023 made it a point of duty to distribute food items to members of his constituency using an occupational approach to identify groups of beneficiaries in any given phase as the distributions were done in phases. These groups include: artisans, farmers, school teachers, traders, medical practitioners, retired uniform men and women among others — and these are usually done without any ethnic or religious prejudice. The only criteria is that the beneficiaries are resident in Zaria Federal Constituency.
Education: On December 15, 2024, Speaker Abbas performed the foundation laying ceremony of four new federal institutions, which he attracted to Zaria. The institutions are the Federal College of Education; a state-of-the-art College of Health Sciences; a National Open University campus, and a College of Legal Studies. Addressing the Constituents, including the leadership of the Zaria Education Development Association (ZEDA), Speaker Abbas said the institutions would not only enhance Zaria’s educational infrastructure but also provide critical resources for the city.
Recall that the Speaker, in 2023, sponsored a bill for the upgrade of the Federal College of Education, Zaria to a Federal University of Education, which was passed by the House, concurred by the Senate and assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2024, thereby making the institution an additional federal university in Zaria. In addition to these new projects, Speaker Abbas has undertaken extensive renovation work in not less than 150 primary and secondary schools in Zaria with plans for further upgrades. He also unveiled and launched a comprehensive plan to revolutionize the educational landscape of Zaria, saying the ancient city is not strong in commerce, but well known for education which is why the educational infrastructure must be strengthened and expanded to meet the growing needs of citizens to acquire knowledge.
Just on April 18, 2025, Speaker Abbas disbursed N5 billion worth of scholarships to 30,000 students from the North-West geopolitical zone. This was in addition to the announcement of a modern orphanage and seven new federal institutions to be established in Zaria. Some of the exciting new institutions which have been captured in the 2025 national budget are: Federal College of Agriculture; Federal Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Institute; Federal Technical College; Centre for Management Development & Technology Incubation, and School for the Disabled (Primary & Secondary).
Seven thousand out of the 30,000 beneficiaries were drawn from Kaduna State, while the rest were from the six remaining states of the North West. To prove the fidelity of the Speaker’s commitment, many beneficiaries who were at the ceremony, held in Zaria, erupted into wild jubilations as they began to receive bank alerts, indicating the payment of the scholarship sums. A few of the students mounted the stage to break the news.
The scholarship ranges from 200,000 to 800,000, depending on the students’ courses of study. The Speaker said the funds are to facilitate the students’ tuition fees, and the provision of books and stipends. Beneficiaries were drawn from the seven north-western states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Speaker Abbas announced that his interventions were not limited to the North West or the North alone, as other geopolitical zones have also benefited from such programmes, while plans were underway to do more. The Speaker has also increased his sponsorship of WAEC, NECO and JAMB examinations registration for secondary school students as well as University admission seekers in Zaria from 6,000 in 2024 to 8,000 students in 2025. The Speaker’s interventions in educational are not limited to his constituency or region alone, but spread across other geopolitical zones as well, as he has influenced the construction of faculty buildings, hostels, graduation and convocation squares in some tertiary institutions across the country, including Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Kaduna State), Federal University of Technology, Akure (Ondo State), Al-Hikma Islamic University, Ilorin (Kwara State), Federal University, Otuoke,(Bayelsa State) Federal University, Dutse (Jigawa State), Federal University, Dutsinma (Katsina State), Kaduna State University (Kaduna State), Kaduna State Polytechnic (Kaduna State), Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria (Kaduna State), Federal College of Education, Kafanchan (Kaduna State), Federal University of Education, Zaria (Kaduna State), Nigeria Civil Aviation College, Zaria, (Kaduna State).
” Empowerment: On April 14, 2025, Speaker Abbas carried out what is arguably the biggest empowerment programme in the history of Zaria Federal Constituency as he presented a total of 117 vehicles, 200 tricycles, 1,000 motorcycles to his constituents. The vehicles comprising 20 Hilux SUVs; 2 ambulances; 20 18-seater buses; 50 Sharon vehicles, and 25 sedan/saloon cars (Golf, Corolla & Peugeot 406) were distributed various beneficiaries, including security agencies, local government party offices, education and health workers, NURTW, NUT, NUJ, religious and women groups, among others. Also, 200 tricycles, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, and 1,000 motorcycles were given to beneficiaries, who were carefully selected as deserving of the intervention.
Speaking at the event, attended by the Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani, the Speaker thanked his constituents for their continued support, noting that he would continue to do his best to attract people-oriented projects to them. Recall also that on February 24, 2025, Speaker Abbas flagged off a campaign against drug abuse and domestic violence in the North West geopolitical zone.
Speaking at the event in Kaduna, he stated that the task of eradicating drug abuse, illicit drug flow, and domestic violence should not be left to the government alone, noting that it is the responsibility of all stakeholders. Speaker Abbas by his words and actions has no doubt cut the image of an uncommon hero, not just to the people of Zaria, but also to Nigerians as his leadership disposition is inspiring confidence and hope among the youths who were hitherto cynical of the political class. His redefinition of leadership as a life of service to the people and the country is gradually shifting the paradigm from the selfish mentality of “what’s in it for me” to the selfless question of “how can we make the lives of the citizens better?”.
