In the face of criticism of the federal and state governments for not cutting the cost of governance, but imposing huge cost of living on Nigerians by the withdrawal of fuel subsidy a month before the alloted time by the 2023 Appropriation Act; a political office holder and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, has reeled out a list of 33 fresh appointees for his office.
Abbas is not alone as many other office holders are naming appointees, though they have made their way into the public domain.
Those named for Abbas are in addition to Mr. Olanrewaju Smarth, his Chief of Staff. Smarth was the Chief of Staff to the immediate past Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who is currently Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
No mention was made other staff of the Speaker who may be posted out to his constituency office in Kaduna State
According to statement from his office, the appointees are as follows:
1. ENGR. JAMIL AHMED MUHAMMED – DEP. CHIEF OF STAFF – ADMINISTRATION
2. DR. DUNKWU CHAMBERLAIN – DEP. CHIEF OF STAFF – LEGISLATIVE
3. HON. AHMED DAYYABU SAFANA – SPECIAL ADVISER, SPECIAL DUTIES
4. DR. HAMISU IBRAHIM KUBAU – SPECIAL ADVISER, POLITICAL MATTERS
5. BARR. SAMUEL AJAYI – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, LEGAL MATTERS
6. BARR. OSAZEE MELODY OGUNDIJIE – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
7. BARR. AMINU RAMALAN – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, FINANCE
8. AMB. IBRAHIM HAMIDU GUSAU – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, INTERNATIONAL AND INTERPARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
9. LAMIR UMAR IBRAHIM – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, YOUTH MATTERS
10. YETUNDE ADENIJI – SPECIAL – ASSISTANT, WOMEN AFFAIRS
11. HON. RAPHAEL NNANA IGBOKWE – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
12. ZAKARI ALIYU – PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY
13. LEKE BAYEIWU – CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
14. NURA ADAMU – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, BROADCAST MEDIA
15. AHMED BABA MUSA – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, PRINT MEDIA
16. OLABAMIJI ENITAN JOWOSIMI – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, NEW MEDIA
17. ALIYU GARBA WAZIRI – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, EXECUTIVE RELATIONS AND JOB CREATION
18. MOHAMMED SALAME – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY – ICT
19. HON. FRIDAY ITULAH – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS (SOUTH SOUTH)
20. HON. GODFREY GAIYA – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS (NORTH WEST)
21. HANMATION MARK TERSOO – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS (NORTH CENTRAL)
22. HON. ZAKARI GALADIMA – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS (NORTH EAST)
23. ABDULSALAM BABAKAYODE – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS (SOUTH WEST)
24. HON. OKWUDILI CHRISTOPHER EZENWANKWO – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS (SOUTH EAST)
25. HON. ABDULLAHI SA’AD ABDULKADIR – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)
26. LAWAL SHEHU ALIYU – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE – NEW MEDIA 1
27. MARY ANN UJU ONYEJIMBE – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE
28. NURA MUSTAPHA – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE
29. YAHAYA AMINU PATE – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE – (PERSONAL ASSISTANT)
30. AUWAL USMAN KOMBANI – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE – NEW MEDIA II
31. VICTOR NGUN – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE, VISUAL COMMUNICATION
32. ANDREW FABIAN – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE – PHOTOGRAPHY
33. DAVID ADEBAYO DOLAPO – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE – OFFICIAL VIDEOGRAPHER
The statement announcing the appointees was signed by the 35th appointee, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.