The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has urged Nigerians to judge political parties and their candidates in the 2027 general elections by their actions and past records rather than rhetoric.
Speaker Tajudeen said some opposition politicians presenting themselves as alternatives to President Bola Tinubu had previously held public offices and should be assessed based on their achievements while in power.
The Speaker stated this in his goodwill message at the maiden graduation ceremony of 4,050 youths trained at the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development, Balarabe Musa Institute, Rigachikun, Kaduna, on Thursday.
He urged voters to scrutinise the records of politicians seeking their support, particularly their management of public resources and their contributions to the development of their communities.
“Anyone asking for your trust must first answer for their record. How did they manage public funds? What did they achieve in office? Did they remain true to their principles, or did their principles change whenever power changed hands?” he said.
Speaker Tajudeen said “voters should apply the same standard at the national level, urging those criticising the current administration’s reforms to explain what they achieved when they had the authority to act.”
He also urged voters to demand evidence from politicians seeking their support, including what they had built, whom they had trained and whose lives they had improved.
The Speaker described the graduation of the 4,050 beneficiaries as evidence that public investment in human capital could transform lives.
He said the graduates had acquired recognised qualifications, practical skills and the confidence needed to pursue economic opportunities.
Speaker Tajudeen said “the National Assembly had supported human capital development through legislation and budgetary provisions, including measures to broaden access to student funding and technical and vocational education.”
He explained that “human capital development, job creation and security remained priorities of the House of Representatives’ Legislative Agenda.”
The Speaker said his constituency interventions had also supported education, digital skills, entrepreneurship and technical and vocational training.
He also said “the objective was to convert Nigeria’s growing population into productive human capital.”
Speaker Tajudeen urged the people of Kaduna to sustain what he described as the progress recorded under the administration of Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress.
He also reaffirmed support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying “its impact should be measured by improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.”
Commendation
Governor Uba Sani, in his address, commended President Tinubu for his support for Kaduna State, particularly in security, agriculture and agribusiness, transportation, healthcare, education and infrastructure.
Governor Sani said “the commissioning of the vocational training institutes by President Tinubu in June 2025 demonstrated the Nigerian Government’s commitment to developing the potential of young people in Kaduna State.”
He stressed that federal support for projects including the Kaduna Light Rail, agricultural and agro-industrial initiatives, healthcare, education and infrastructure had strengthened the state’s capacity to implement its development agenda.
The Governor also announced a grant of ₦200,000 for each of the 4,050 graduates, amounting to ₦810 million, to support their transition from training to productive work.
He said “the grant, to be administered through the Kaduna State Enterprise Development Agency, could be used to purchase essential tools, provide initial working capital, secure shared workspaces, undertake professional registration or cover transportation to employment opportunities.”
Governor Sani said the grant would complement the state government’s job-placement initiative, adding that the government was engaging companies and industries to create opportunities for direct employment, apprenticeships, internships, mentorship and subcontracting.
He said the state was also developing a digital platform to connect graduates with employers and track their employment outcomes.
According to him, the success of the programme would ultimately be measured by the number of graduates who secure employment, establish businesses, improve their incomes, secure contracts and contribute to the development of their communities.
