Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for his outstanding performance in office.

Speaking at an event to mark the two-year anniversary of Mr Abbas as speaker, in Zaria on Saturday, the governor said the lawmaker has excelled beyond measure.

He noted that the speaker has not only represented his people well but also attracts major interventions to his constituency and expands his personal resources to put smiles on the faces of the people.

“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 revitalisation programmes. We have stabilised 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 model of development in Nigeria,’’ he added.

Mr Sani noted that Mr Abbas has remained a stabilising 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 silence in honour of the late business mogul Aminu Dantata, who died in the early hours of Saturday at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at 94 years.

Presenting his scorecard, Mr 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, Mr Abbas said that he has done everything within his power to justify the trust placed on 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 education, launched an N5 billion scholarship scheme for over ten thousand students, and commenced construction of 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 two-year 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 included 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.