Hon. Yusuf Ahmed Tijani gives thanks who has seen him over the challenges and travails over the year as a mark of one year in office. In spite being a Legislator without budgetary provision, he launched three different schemes such as Youth Empowerment and Skill Acquisition Scheme, Women and Youth Skill acquisition Scheme on domestic product as well as Vocational Training for Youth which had over 300 persons in his constituency trained and empowered.
As part of his electoral promises to ensure that Ajaokuta Steel Company is revitalized, this second term Member of House of Reps, representing Okene/Ogori-Magongo federal constituency, sponsored a Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Institute of Steel Development to be situated in Okene. The proposed Institute will serve as a panacea for the revival of the Company, which will in turn aid the diversification of the nation’s economy. And he pledged to do all the needful to ensure that the Bill scale through.
However, he has been able to use his good office in establishing a relationship with some ministries and agencies of government to bring benefits to his people. Sometime in November last year, this second term legislator paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Minister of Works & Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola to appeal for the dualization of Lokoja – Okene road and his response was in affirmation.
He equally visited Mr. Ernest Mupwaya of AEDC to find a lasting solution to the epileptic power supply to Ebiraland which is already yielding result by the provision of prepaid meters to his constituency.
Within the year under review, he has given scholarship to over 100 students and have been able to influence the employment of over 10 qualified members of his constituency in various strategic places of work at senior cadre as list below:-
- Central Bank of Nigeria
- National Biotechnology Development Agency
- Bureau of Public Procurement
- University of Nigeria Nsuka
- Federal University of Abuja
- Federal Medical Centre Lokoja
- Kogi Internal Revenue Service
As for his legislative contribution, this legislator whose legislative prowess has given him both national and international attention was able to present five private Bills and two of the bills have sailed through second reading within the year. The bills are as follows:-
- A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Nigerian Entertainment Trust Fund to spark job creation and economic growth.
- A Bill for an Act to establish a training organization in Okene to be known as the Nigerian Institute of Steel Development to provide prompt advisory service on materials, construction practices, interpretation of codes and creating an environment for better usage of steel by acquiring and disseminating knowledge about the best practices.
- A Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian College of Mining Technology to provide for instruction and research in such branches of mining and quarrying for the advancement of learning and dissemination of knowledge in such branches.
- A Bill for an Act to amend the Federal Character Commission Act to provide for the representation of each Senatorial District of the Federation in order to ensure total inclusiveness of job seekers in the federal civil service.
- A Bill for an Act to constitute a National Agency for Minority Communities to serve as a recommendation making body for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of minorities by the Federal Government or the State Governments.
In the days to come, Hon. Tijani proposes to establish Ebira–Textile & Garment Promotion Centre in Okene as well as to establish Technical Skills Acquisition Centre in Magongo. However, he proposed to launch Widows’ Economic Empowerment Scheme and Petty Traders Empowerment Capital Scheme in Okene/Ogori-Magongo Federal Constituency.
He pledged his allegiance to Kogi State’s governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello whose relationship with him he regarded as a plus to all he has done and all he aspires to do.
