House Diary: Life and Legacy of 4th Assembly Speaker, Na'Abba

Editor's Note

The House of Representatives on Thursday, 22nd February 2024 held a Valedictory Session in honour of Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba CFR.

Rt. Hon. Na'Abba, Speaker of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003, passed on Wednesday, 27th December 2023 at the age of 65.

At the Session presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, former Presiding Officers of the Green Chamber including Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari (2003 - 2007), and Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (2019 - 2023) were present. Others in attendance include former Deputy Speakers; Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche (1999 - 2003), Rt. Hon. Austin Opara (2003 - 2007), Senator Usman Bayero Nafada (2007 - 2011), Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha (2011 - 2015), and Rt. Hon. Lasun Yusuff (2015 - 2019).

The ceremony which is the first valedictory session to be held in the House since the inauguration of the 10th House, also had serving and former Principal Officers of the Green Chamber, as well as serving and former Members.

In his remarks, Speaker Abbas described Na'Abba as a modest and deeply religious man who gave the last full measure of devotion to his work and Nigeria. "He lived a simple life but always with the end in mind. His life is, therefore, a worthy lesson for political office holders of today and generations of politicians to come," the Speaker noted.

In a country with a large youth population , Na'Abba may not be known to the majority of Nigerians at this time. A foremost stateman, passionate politician and political scientist., he was considered to be a very courageous public servant.

In this inaugural edition of House Diary therefore, we profile the life and legacy of the Seventh Indigenous Speaker of Nigeria's House Of Representatives and second substantive Presiding Officer of the Green Chamber in the advent of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic (1999 - Date).

BACKGROUND

One wife, 10 children and three grandchildren

EDUCATION

• - Bachelor’s degree, Political Science (1979) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
• - Postgraduate Programme: Leadership and Good Governance (2004)
    Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, United States

IDEOLOGY 

• - Disciple of Mallam Aminu Kano School of Good Governance, Nation Building and Political Transparency.

POLITICAL CAREER

• - Secretary, People's Redemption Party (PRP) Executive Committee (1978)
     Ahmadu Bello University Chapter, Zaria established in the 2nd Republic by Mallam Aminu Kano.

BUSINESS

• - Secretary, Na’Abba Commercial Trading Company (1979 - 1983)
  - Earned vital roles in companies under his Na’Abba chain of businesses for another 15 years

POLITICAL PARTY MEMBERSHIP

• - Founding Member, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) - 1998 - 2006
  - Member, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) - 2006 - 2009
  - Member, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) - 2009 - 2014
  - Member, All Progressives Congress (APC) - 2014

LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE

• - Lawmaker representing Kano Municipal Federal Constituency (1999 - 2003)
• - Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations (June 1999 - July 1999)
• - Speaker, House of Representatives (July 29, 1999 - June 2, 2003)

KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS HELD

• - President Conference of Speakers of West African Parliaments
• - President, African Parliamentary Union
  - President, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region)
• - President, Global Forum for Parliamentarian on Habitat (African Regional Council)

HONOURS

• - Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) - 2010
  - Honorary Citizen of Kansas City, Missouri, USA

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

• - Played a central role in rebuilding of the legislative arm of government after a long period of military intervention
• - Led the design of an effective framework and processes for the conduct of parliamentary business as it is known today
• - The 4th House of Representatives under his leadership birthed the idea of a Legislative Agenda” themed “House Contract with   Nigeria”
• - Ensured profound scrutiny of the budget framework, making robust adjustments where necessary
• - Saw to the passage of impactful resolutions and landmark laws to ensure effective service delivery and people-driven development 
• - Worked for a robust defense of the independence of the legislature especially through strengthened House Committees
• - Championed the first and only successful veto of a sitting president, leading to the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
• - Fashioned out a cohesive, inclusive, thinking and participatory house, with regular debates on the “State of the Nation”
• - Worked diligently with his colleagues to ensure the National Assembly budget was put on first-line charge the Legislative Aides' System as operated today, which continues to boost the capacity of legislators for enhanced performance.
• - Survived nine impeachment attempts as House Speaker
• - Made robust contributions to nation building through attendance and presentation of papers at both local and international conferences

KEY QUOTES

“I did not campaign to be Speaker; I did not tell anybody that I wanted to be Speaker. It was my colleagues who decided that I should lead them and that was what happened. Eventually, I was the only person to be nominated for the position,”

“I couldn’t have survived the impeachments without those patriotic members. I thank my Deputy, Chibudom Nwuche and all the principal officers, who stood behind me”

DEMISE
Na'Abba died on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 and was buried on the same day, in Kano.

IMMORTALISATION

On February 8, 2024, the House of Representatives adopted a motion resolving to name the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Building after him.

The motion was sponsored by Rep. Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano) during plenary. The resolution is before the Senate, awaiting concurrence