Meet the Presiding Officers of Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly

On Tuesday, June 13, a historic event took place in Nigeria as the 10th National Assembly was inaugurated and its presiding officers elected.

Senator Godswill Akpabio taking the oath of office as the Senate President pic.twitter.com/yruPTBK18X

— Channels Television (@channelstv) June 13, 2023

Led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, these esteemed individuals are poised to make critical decisions on behalf of Nigerians.

Let’s explore their profiles and their journey to these influential positions.

Godswill Akpabio – Senate President

Godswill Akpabio, born on December 9, 1962, is a former minister of Niger Delta Affairs and a prominent Nigerian politician. He obtained his primary education at Methodist Primary School, Ukana, and pursued his O’ and A’ levels at Federal Government College, Port Harcourt.

Akpabio furthered his studies in Law at the University of Calabar and attended the Nigeria Law School in Lagos. Before entering politics, he worked as a teacher and practised law at Paul Usoro and Co., a law firm.

Akpabio served as the Akwa Ibom State Governor from 2007 to 2015 and later became the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum. In 2015, he was elected as a senator for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.

Akpabio’s political journey led him to become the Senate Minority Leader in 2015, and in 2018, he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Appointed as Minister for the Niger Delta Affairs in 2019, Akpabio now assumes the position of Senate President after a resounding victory in the election.

Jibrin Barau – Deputy Senate President

Jibrin Barau, hailing from Kabo Township in Kano State, is a distinguished Nigerian lawmaker. Born in 1959, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, along with several master’s degrees and a certificate in Financial Management from Cornell University in the United States.

Barau’s career began in the accounting department of Kano State Foundation, and later he ventured into private business encompassing manufacturing, insurance, and construction sectors.

He entered politics in 1999, winning a seat in the House of Representatives to represent the Tarauni Federal Constituency of Kano State. During his tenure, he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and as a member of the House Committee on Power.

After leaving the House of Representatives, Barau held various positions such as Chairman of Kano State Investment and Properties Ltd and Commissioner of Science and Technology in Kano State.

He returned to politics in 2015, winning the senatorial election for Kano North Senatorial District under the APC. With extensive experience in governance and leadership, Barau assumes the role of Deputy Senate President.

Tajudeen Abbas – Speaker of the House of Representatives

Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, a respected figure in Nigerian politics, was born in October 1963 in Zaria, Kaduna State. With a passion for education and politics, Abbas attended Kaduna Teachers College and Ahmadu Bello University, where he obtained a degree in Business Administration.

Later, he earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in business management from Usman Dan-Fodio University in Sokoto. Before entering politics, Abbas had a fruitful career as a primary school teacher and a lecturer at Kaduna State Polytechnic and Kaduna State University.

Additionally, he worked as a marketing manager for NTC Plc. In 2011, he ventured into politics and won the election to represent Zaria Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives under the APC.

Throughout his tenure, Abbas has been an active member of various committees, including National Planning and Economic Development, Public Procurement, Defence, Social Duties, Finance, and Commerce. With a wealth of experience in academia and governance, Tajudeen Abbas secures the coveted position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Benjamin Kalu – Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives

Benjamin Kalu, representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, is a prominent figure in Nigerian politics. Born on May 5th, 1971, Kalu graduated from the University of Calabar and served as a student representative during his academic journey.

His political career started with various leadership positions, such as the national chairman of the PDP in the diaspora and the local government chairman of Bende, Abia State.

He also served as senior special adviser to the governor on local government and chieftaincy affairs, as well as on Millennium Development Goals and international relations. After several attempts, Kalu finally won the House of Representatives seat in 2019 under the APC.

Throughout his tenure, he served as the spokesperson of the Green Chambers and chaired the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs. On June 13, 2023, Kalu emerged as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, further solidifying his position as a key figure in Nigeria’s legislative branch.

With the election of Godswill Akpabio, Jibrin Barau, Tajudeen Abbas, and Benjamin Kalu as the presiding officers of Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly, a new era begins. These esteemed individuals bring with them a wealth of experience, expertise, and dedication to serve the Nigerian people.

As they assume their roles, Nigerians can look forward to their leadership, decision-making, and the positive impact they will hopefully make in shaping the nation’s future.