The House of Representatives is preparing to honour its outgoing Clerk, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, as he approaches mandatory retirement from the National Assembly Service on February 8, 2026, after attaining the statutory retirement age.

The National Assembly Service Commission announced on January 21 the appointment of Kamoru Sidi as Acting Clerk of the House of Representatives effective February 9, 2026, to succeed Danzaria following his retirement.

Sidi, who previously served as Director of Administration in the National Assembly, brings extensive experience in parliamentary management and legislative operations to the position.

The Commission’s decision formally ends Danzaria’s tenure as one of the most transformative Clerks in the history of Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber, marking the conclusion of a distinguished career dedicated to strengthening parliamentary governance.

Dr. Danzaria, a native of Yelwa-Yauri in Kebbi State, has been widely praised for his professionalism, transparency and commitment to institutional excellence during his stewardship of the 10th House of Representatives.

Under his leadership, the House witnessed significant strides in administrative efficiency, including the comprehensive digitization of parliamentary documents and procedures that improved accessibility and transparency in legislative operations.

Colleagues and legislative experts have described Danzaria as the “unseen engine” of the parliament, whose behind-the-scenes work ensured the seamless operation of legislative machinery while lawmakers remained the visible faces of the institution.

His strategic thinking, meticulous planning and ability to bridge gaps among various stakeholders created an environment where legislative duties were executed with professionalism despite the complex administrative system governing the chamber.

Throughout his tenure, Danzaria maintained high standards of transparency and accountability, earning respect and admiration from lawmakers, administrative staff and the broader legislative community at a time when allegations of corruption and inefficiency have eroded public trust in governance.

A critical aspect of his legacy has been anticipating challenges and proactively addressing them, demonstrating deep understanding of the legislative agenda’s long-term implications while aligning the House’s administrative functions with its legislative priorities.

By fostering an environment focused on institutional re-engineering, Danzaria helped create a more efficient, responsive and citizen-centric parliament where lawmakers could concentrate on their primary mandate of legislating for national progress rather than being burdened by bureaucratic impediments.

His approach to bureaucratic reform ensured that administrative systems served as catalysts for meaningful change, supporting bills that enhanced national development and positioning the House for greater effectiveness in its constitutional responsibilities.

Lawmakers have credited Danzaria with providing invaluable guidance on legislative procedures, parliamentary ethics and institutional best practices, noting that his departure represents the loss of significant institutional memory and expertise.

The outgoing Clerk’s commitment to staff development was demonstrated through numerous training workshops focused on legislative work ethics, behavioural conduct and modern parliamentary practices aligned with global standards.

Danzaria consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining secrecy on official government documents, reminding staff that the 1962 Oath of Secrecy Act remains in force to demonstrate the premium placed on confidential information.

As his retirement approaches, tributes have poured in from across Nigeria’s political landscape, with many describing him as a rare public servant whose quiet but impactful contributions laid the foundation for a more prosperous and equitable society.

The House of Representatives is expected to hold a formal valedictory session before Danzaria’s departure, providing an opportunity for Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, principal officers and members to pay tribute to his exceptional service and dedication to parliamentary excellence.

Kamoru Sidi will inherit a well-organized and digitally-enhanced administrative structure, positioning him to build upon the solid foundation established by his predecessor while navigating the evolving challenges facing Nigeria’s legislature.

North Central youths have unveiled a dedicated support platform endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections, adding another regional voice to the growing wave of youth mobilization across Nigeria.

The North Central Youths Support Group for Tinubu 2027 announced its formation alongside plans for a formal public inauguration scheduled to take place at the Tinubu Support Group Office at No. 2 Kainji Crescent, off Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.

Former House of Representatives member Hassan Omale Atayoma will lead the organization as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, bringing legislative experience and familiarity with federal governance to the movement.

Atayoma, who currently serves as Executive Director of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, oversees programs linked to water resource management, agriculture and infrastructure development, experience that supporters believe will enhance the group’s administrative efficiency.

The organization has also appointed Comrade Isa Daniel (Prof) as Advisor. He presently serves as Deputy Director of Organising at the APC National Secretariat, a position associated with party coordination and nationwide mobilization.

Political backing for the initiative includes Hon. James Abiodun Faleke as Grand Patron, whose role is expected to provide mentorship, strategic counsel and national visibility for the youth movement.

Organizers have positioned the platform as a vehicle for youth-led advocacy, political engagement and grassroots mobilization across the North Central geopolitical zone comprising Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The group pledged commitment to peace, unity, democratic principles and policies aimed at economic growth, job creation and sustainable national development under Tinubu’s leadership.

The North Central endorsement follows a similar declaration by the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum, which raised ₦200 million to purchase President Tinubu’s APC nomination form for the 2027 elections.

At a high-level youth engagement held in Abuja on Monday, NNYLF National Leader Murtala Gamji announced that the forum had unanimously decided to support Tinubu’s second term, citing achievements in security, agriculture, infrastructure and youth empowerment.

“We believe in the unity of Nigeria and in the agreement that the South should complete its eight years before the North comes in,” Gamji stated, adding that northern youths would stand by President Tinubu as he completes a second term.

The ₦200 million cheque was presented to Director-General of the Tinubu Support Groups, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, who described it as a generous and impactful contribution demonstrating northern youth faith in the president’s leadership.

Similarly, Kogi State youths on Sunday presented a ₦100 million cheque to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to cover the cost of Tinubu’s APC presidential expression of interest and nomination forms.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Monday Aridaya Anebei, said the donation represents the collective resolve of young people across Kogi’s 21 local government areas to back President Tinubu for a second term.

Governor Ododo described the endorsement as neither emotional nor symbolic, but a deliberate and collective decision rooted in youth assessment of Tinubu’s leadership, citing gradual naira stabilization, increased food availability and improved fuel affordability.

The National Youth Council of Nigeria has also declared nationwide support for Tinubu, with President Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo pledging to mobilize 40 to 60 million youth votes to guarantee victory in 2027.

However, barely one week after its grand opening, part of Tinubu’s campaign office in Makurdi, Benue State, was demolished by officials of the Benue State Urban Development Board, sparking controversy and raising questions about the challenges facing pro-Tinubu mobilization efforts in some North Central states.

Despite the setback, organizers of the North Central Youths Support Group have expressed confidence that their grassroots network and leadership structure will effectively deliver the region’s youth vote for President Tinubu’s re-election.

The All Progressives Congress in Osun State has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of deliberately distorting facts regarding the tenure status of local government council officials and misrepresenting the circumstances surrounding withheld allocations.

In a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC claimed Governor Adeleke’s recent state broadcast contained falsehoods designed to confuse the public about the legitimacy of council chairmen and councillors currently occupying local government secretariats across the state.

“The governor’s broadcast was a ploy to use falsehoods to confuse and ultimately misinform members of the public, as it is far from the truth that the reinstated APC chairmen and councillors have been illegally occupying the local government council secretariats for about one year,” Olabisi stated.

The opposition party insisted that the matter before the Federal High Court in Osogbo concerns only the determination of the three-year tenure granted to APC council executives, not an application for tenure elongation as claimed by the governor.

Olabisi argued that it would have been more honest for Governor Adeleke to disclose that the reinstated APC council officials are also questioning the legality of conducting another election while their tenure remains under judicial review.

However, Governor Adeleke has maintained that the council officials’ tenure expired in October 2025, describing their continued presence at the secretariats as a severe criminal breach of the law and the Constitution.

“If you admitted your tenure has lapsed, what are you still doing at the councils? Filing a case does not extend your tenure, and the constitution does not permit it. Osun APC are engaging in a severe, criminal breach of the law and the constitution,” Adeleke declared in his response.

The governor’s spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, countered the APC’s allegations by emphasizing that multiple court judgments, including those from the Federal High Court in November 2022 and affirmations by the Court of Appeal in February and June 2025, had nullified the elections that brought the APC officials to office.

Adeleke has demanded the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations allegedly withheld from Osun’s 30 local governments since February 2025, warning that the blockade is crippling grassroots governance and inflicting hardship on workers and residents.

The governor accused former Osun Governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of supporting the continued occupation of council secretariats with police backing, an action he described as undermining democracy and the rule of law.

According to Adeleke, the withheld funds are critical for paying salaries of primary school teachers, nurses working in 332 primary healthcare centers, council workers, traditional councils and retirees. He revealed that the state government has had to make painful sacrifices to pay these salaries for almost 12 months.

The Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria in Osun, Abiodun Idowu, defended the APC officials’ presence at the councils, claiming they have legal backing from the Court of Appeal judgment of February 10, 2025.

“We are in the council secretariats legally, as we have approached the court to determine the issue of our tenure, which will come up February 3, after which we will know our position,” Idowu stated.

The escalating war of words between the state government and opposition party reflects deepening tensions ahead of the August 8, 2026 governorship election, where both camps are positioning themselves for what promises to be a fiercely contested poll.

In December 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed Osun’s attempt to force the release of the withheld funds, ruling that the state attorney-general lacked the legal right to sue on behalf of the councils, though the court acknowledged that the federal government had wrongly withheld the money.