Reps Honour Outgoing Clerk, Move on Food Security and Recruitment Allegations

The House of Representatives on Thursday, January 29, 2026, held a valedictory session in honour of the outgoing Clerk of the House, Dr. Yahaya H. Dan Zaria, praising his years of service and contribution to parliamentary administration.

Led by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, lawmakers commended Dr. Dan Zaria’s professionalism, discipline, and integrity, noting that his legal and administrative expertise strengthened the operations of the House. Members unanimously applauded his commitment to legislative traditions and institutional stability.

After the valedictory session, the House took up Matters of Urgent Public Importance, adopting resolutions on recruitment practices, food security, and agricultural funding.

The House resolved to investigate alleged discriminatory recruitment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where 17 medical doctors were reportedly denied housemanship on ethnic grounds. The Committee on Health Institutions was directed to probe the matter within four weeks, while the Federal Ministry of Health was urged to suspend the Chief Medical Director to prevent interference.

Lawmakers also raised concern over rising hunger and declining agricultural productivity in Northern Nigeria, attributing the situation to insecurity and farmer displacement. The House called on the Federal Government to urgently provide farm inputs, fertilisers, seedlings, credit facilities, and extension services ahead of the planting season.

In another resolution, the House ordered a probe into the delay in releasing approved agricultural intervention funds from the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Members noted that the non disbursement of over $134 million and ¥15 billion had disrupted farming activities. A report is expected within two weeks.

The House also commenced the Second Reading of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which proposes the withdrawal of ₦58.47 trillion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. The bill was referred to the Committee on Appropriations and other relevant committees for further legislative