Hon Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi is a member of the House of Reps, representing Karu/Keffi/Kokona of Nassarawa State Constituency. He was the lawmaker who came to Lagos to represent the Speaker of the House of Reps who was honoured by City People two weekends back. He described Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakuba Dogara’s Award as the “Politician of the Year” at the recent City People Award for Excellence as a well deserved honour judging from the many storms he has weathered since he stepped into office.
In an interview with City People Hon. Gbefwi who came to represent and take the award on behalf of Hon. Dogara extolled the achievements of Dogara as a go-getter and a great achiever, due to his service to the nation and humanity said the Award was a well deserved honour as he had won other many awards due to his efforts.
According to him, “The House of Representatives in the 8th National Assembly under Hon. Dogara has achieved a lot in its 2 year legislative year which is unprecedented in the history of house since 1999,”.
He recalled that the 8th National Assembly was inaugurated on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 through a proclamation by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Highlighting some specific achievements of the Lower Chamber in the last two years, Hon. Gaza Gbefwi, who is also two years in office said the achievement recorded include: Stability of the 8th National Assembly.
“You can see the fact that at this time that the country is going through its lowest ebbs, Hon. Dogara has been able to keep the polity quiet peaceful and stable. He has brought stability in the 8th National Assembly,” he said, adding that all these account to the amount of wisdom and his political prowess that God has given him.
Speaking further, the 42 year old Hon. Gbefwi, who became a member of the House of Reps under the platform of PDP said another achievement is the setting up of a committee of experts to undertake Legislative Needs Assessment of the National Assembly on August 14, 2015.
Also, the constitution of 96 Standing Committees which were inaugurated on November 9, 2015 and several ad hoc committees to deal on numerous matters.
Gbefwi noted that though, the journey has not been easy but Dogara’s wisdom of leadership has helped him to succeed. “And of course, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. but the House has remained as one and therefore, will continue to champion its course.
He, however pointed out that, “The most important thing right now is that we want to make sure that the country gets out of its recession. We want to put the economy back on its footing.
Gbefwi, who received the Award on behalf of the Speaker said: “This award is dedicated to all Nigerians and to the 8th National Assembly. This award will spur us to do more” But he was quick to add that commitment to the establishment of NASS Radio/Television stations for better access to the Legislature in the 8th National Assembly is another achievement of Hon. Dogara.
The House of Reps Speaker, Yakubu Dogara was one of the top political personalities honoured at this years City People Awards For Excellence.
This is in honour of his brilliance and the remarkable way he has steered the activities of the House of Reps. When he took over the leadership of the house in 2015, only a few people gave this slim, ever smiling politician who hails from Bauchi a chance. There was so much hostility from various quarters to his emergence as leader of the house. Their were those who didn’t feel comfortable with the fact that he is a Christian. There are those who didn’t like his urbane and cosmopolitan personalities. They felt he was too gentlemanly for the post.
But unknown to many of them Dogara had sterling qualities that would aide his job as the No 1 lawmaker in the House of Reps. Since he settled in 2 years ago he has shown the great stuff he is made of. He has not only showed brilliance he has deftly run the house through a lot of stormy situation and has come out of its victorious. Many don’t know that this 50 year old politician has a very impressive profile that a lot of people envy.
In the House of Representatives, he represents Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa Federal constituency of Bauchi State. He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Yakubu Dogara was born to Yakubu Ganawuri and Saratu Yakubu on 26 December 1967. He began his education in 1976 at Gwarangah Primary School in the then Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Upon graduation in 1982, he proceeded to the Bauchi Teachers’ College for his secondary education, and obtained a Grade II Teachers’ Certificate in 1987. In 1988, he went on to the University of Jos, Plateau State, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Law (LLB Hons.) degree in 1992.
From 1992 to 1993, Dogara was a student at the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School and was called to the bar in 1993. He later obtained a Masters (LLM) in International Commercial Law at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Dogara also attended a course on Managing and Leading Strategic Change in 2006, the Oxford University Course on Negotiation in 2013, and a course on Leadership in crisis at the Harvard Kennedy School in 2014.
HON-YAKUBU-DOGARAPROFESSIONAL CAREER
He first took up employment in April 1988 as a teacher at the ATBU Staff School in Bauchi. In 1993, during the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, he served at NCCF, Akwa Ibom State. Upon completion of the NYSC programme in 1994, he went into private legal practice until 2005 when he was appointed Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Transport.
He held this position until 2006, when he decided to contest to represent the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa constituency at the Federal House of Representatives. His bid proved successful and he has been a member of the House since 2007.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Dogara has been a member of the Federal House of Representatives since 2007. His legislative interests include tenancy, regulating monopolies, company law, and intellectual property. He has sponsored many bills and undertaken several assignments, some of which are mentioned below;
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS
Between 2007 and 2011, Dogara chaired two House committees, namely the House Committee on Customs and Excise, and the House Services Committee. During this period, he was also a member of the House committees on Judiciary, Capital Markets and Institutions, Foreign Affairs, Rural Development and Power, among others.
During the 2011-2015 dispensation, he served as Chairman of the committee on House Services and Welfare, and as a member of others including Judiciary, Land Transport, Labour, Employment and Productivity, Steel Development, and Legislative Budget and Research.Yakubu-Dogara-Now-In-The-News-Headline
HOUSE ACTIVITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS
Dogara has also served on panels and adhoc committees such as: • Chairman, Nigerian Customs Service Probe Panel • Chairman, Adhoc Committee on Composition and Pigmentation of Cement in Nigeria • Chairman, House Adhoc Committee on Disbursement of Public Funds by the Bank of Industry • Member, House Contract Scam Probe Panel • Member, Hijack of fishing vessels and Maritime Security Probe Panel • Member, House Adhoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft • Member, House Adhoc Committee on Constitutional Review Bills sponsored. In 2010, Dogara sponsored the Corporate Manslaughter and the Data Protection Bill. These were followed by Federal Competition Commission Bill in 2011.
In 2013, he sponsored a bill for an act to amend section 143 of the Nigerian Constitution in order to make the process of removal of the President and the Vice President (on charges of misconduct) less ambiguous. In the same year, he also sponsored bills on Public Interest Disclosure, and Hire Purchase.
MOTIONS SPONSORED
Dogara has sponsored many motions throughout the duration of his legislative career, some of which bordered on. An alleged concession agreement between the Ministry of Finance and a technology firm which was signed in secrecy during the government transition period. The indiscriminate granting of waivers, exemptions and concessions by the Federal Government
The need for the Central Bank of Nigeria to implement the cashless policy in phases based on the availability of the requisite infrastructure.
Urgent need for both Houses of the National Assembly to activate their constitutional powers under section 58 (1) (5) of the 1999 Constitution in relation to bills over which the President has failed to exercise constitutional responsibilities and powers under section 58 (1) and (4) of the Constitution. Dogara-Speaker.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Dogara is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Chartered Institute of Mediators and Conciliators, the Cyber Bar Association and the Social Policy Association. He is also an associate member of the Institute of Environment Management and Assessment, and the World Jurist Association, among others.
He also serves as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees and Legal Adviser to FAcE-PAM, an NGO operating in Bauchi State.
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