HIGHLIGHTS:

 I Owe My Success To My Constituents

 Charges Nigerians to renew commitment to unity, progress in 2018
 These Perennial Killings Must Stop
 Holds N156m Empowerment Programme
I Owe My Success
To My Constituents-
Speaker Dogara

Speaker of the House of Repre-

sentatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara,
has attributed the achievements he
has recorded as a member and
Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives on the trust his constitu-
ents reposed in him.

Speaking during a reception in his

constituency to celebrate his 50th
birthday, he said the people of Bo-
goro, Dass and Tafewa Balewa gave
him the opportunity to become
Speaker by re-electing him against
all odds and that placed him in a
position where he could influence
projects of impact to his constitu-
ency and Bauchi State in general.

He also thanked God for making it

possible for him to achieve as
much as he has, saying he is more
propelled by opportunities to be of
service to the people, than to oc-
cupy positions.

New Year: Dogara charges Ni-
gerians to renew commitment
to unity, progress
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yaku-
bu Dogara, has enjoined Nigerians to review and
renew their resolve and commitment to the unity
and progress of Nigeria as a people of common
destiny in the new year.
In his New year message to Nigerians1, the Speaker
urged Nigerians to draw on the lessons learnt in the
outgoing year to strengthen the bonds of unity, soli-
darity and peace.
Dogara, who commended the resilience and deter-
mination of Nigerians in the midst of daunting chal-
lenges, expressed optimism that better days are
ahead.
" The new year presents an opportunity for stock
taking and a strong resolve to sustain the gains of
Nigeria’s exit from economic recession. Improve-
ment of Nigeria’s economy, security and welfare of
Nigerians must remain our priority in the new year."
He also urged Nigerians to continue to demonstrate
love and exhibit compassion towards one another
and extend hands of support to the less privileged
and vulnerable members of the society.
" As a people, we must continue to imbibe the spirit
of togetherness and love for one another. We must
also support government at all levels by contrib-
uting our quota in the generation of wealth and al-
leviation of poverty in the land".
"Although employment generation and wealth cre-
ation remain priorities of our APC led administration
in its change agenda, it is imperative for us to cre-
ate more employment opportunities for our youths
and women in order to underscore our drive for
economic recovery and growth".
"We should also endeavour to attend to those needs
that have direct bearing on the lives of the people
and dire consequences on our nation, as democracy
cannot succeed where poverty thrives".
On our part in the House of Representatives, we will
continue to pass laws that will better the lives of Ni-
gerians, create conducive business environment for
investment and secure the lives and properties of
Nigerians.
The Speaker wishes Nigerians a happy and prosper-
ous new year.
These Perennial Killings Must Stop
Dogara
…Seeks overhaul of Nigeria’s internal security archi-
tecture

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.

Yakubu Dogara, has expressed grave concern over the
heinous and wanton killing of innocent people, espe-
cially women and children in Logo and Guma local
governments areas of Benue State.
Dogara Empowers Petty
He said the killings, coming shortly after the whole Traders, artisans in Bauchi
world was outraged by similar killings in Agatu in same
Benue State and another in Rivers State, is a clear indi- Markets
cation that it is high time all the security apparatus of
the country are mobilised to put a stop to these mind-
less killings. As part of his contribution to boosting small
scale businesses in order to tackle extreme pov-
erty and hunger at the grassroots, Speaker of
Saying no reason whatsoever, can be enough justifica- the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu
tion for such dastardly act, the Speaker said it is very Dogara, has visited several markets in five towns
worrisome that at a time when government is taking and villages in Bauchi State where he interacted
every step to tame the security challenges in the coun- with traders and artisans and empowered them
try, there seem to be a steady deterioration of security to boost their businesses.
of lives and properties all over the country.

The Speaker was accompanied by his wife

This, he stressed, is totally unacceptable and the legis- Gimbiya Dogara and member representing
lature is determined to hold all authorities vested with Misau/Dambam Federal Constituency of Bauchi
the protection of lives and properties accountable. State, Hon Ahmed Yerima.

While commiserating with the people and government The villages visited by the Speaker include Zwall,
of Benue, Kaduna and Rivers states at this most trying Burgel, Kagadaman Dass, Maraban Liman
moments, Hon Dogara assured Nigerians that the leg- Katagum and Kadagi, along Bauchi-Tafawa
islature will not allow the lives of the victims go in vain. Balewa road.

He also called on the president to immediately deploy He cautioned that democracy cannot thrive
adequate security personnel to the hotspots in order amidst poverty and that hunger, poverty and vi-
to halt further killings
olence are threatening Nigeria's democracy.
Dogara Holds N156m Empow-
erment Programme In Bauchi
...says N300m Raised From Birthday Celebration Ac-
tivities.

Five hundred and twenty six women and from

20 local governments areas of Bauchi State have
concluded an empowerment programme spon-
sored by the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara.

The Speaker also presented each of them with

cheques of a hundred thousand Naira to start a
business from the skills they acquired.

The presentation of certificate for the partici-

pants, who were drawn from across the state,
took place at the National Open University of
Nigeria hall in Bogoro local government area.

The cheques were attached to the certificate of

each participant. They are to present the cheque
with the certificate at the specified bank to cash
it.

The empowerment programme was on building

entrepreneurial skills and the participants were
taught how to add value to agricultural products
such as beans and rice and how to package
them properly for onward sale to earn income.

He also disclosed that so far, through the sup-

port of his friends, N300m has been raised from
donations at a birthday charity football match
and book launch for onward presentation to in-
ternally displaced persons in Nigeria.
2019: We will protect interest of
Bauchi people- Speaker Dogara
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu
Dogara, has assured the people of Bauchi State that
he will protect and defend their interest in arriving at
any political decision ahead of 2019 general election.
He stated this at a reception organised by his constitu-
ents in Bogoro local government area to mark his 50th
birthday anniversary.
Alluding to political developments in Bauchi State, he
said that wherever the interest of majority of the peo-
ple dictate that cwe should go to, that is where you
will find me, by the grace of God."
Hon Dogara allayed fears expressed by the member
representing Lere/Bula in the Bauchi State House of
Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Aminu Tukur, who ex-
pressed concerns over rumours of political realign-
ment and reconciliation in the state and said that as a
leader, he will never betray the trust of the people of
Bauchi State.
Dogara maintained that the he will be guided by pub-
lic interest and assured his political associates and fol-
lowers that they would be consulted and carried
along before taking any decision ahead of the 2019
election.
“As a leader, I'm not going to put a rope on anybody's
neck to drag him anywhere, never,” he said.
“But as leaders, our overwhelming concern should be
the interest of our people, the development of our
state and how we can better the lot of everyone in this
state.”
“That being the case, it means that we will always have
to protect the interest of our people first and not our
own interest. And I believe in consensus, we are going
to sit down as brothers and sisters on a table of broth-
erhood and all our stakeholders will be involved. Even
if it is agreeing to disagree, let us agree to disagree".
“That is a commitment, we will work on the project,
and the project is that of our people.
Dogara Establishes Football
Club To Harness Talent In
Bauchi State
In order to boost sports in Bauchi State and promote
youths with football talents from the state, Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Doga-
ra, has announced the formation of a football club
to be sponsored by him.
The Speaker disclosed this at the finals of the Dogara
Unity Cup competition in Bogoro local government
area.
Teams from 7 local government areas in his Senatori-
al Zone, participated in the competition, with Spi-
ders, Dass team coming second place and 3sc of
Bauchi team clinching the championship. The 4th to
1st place team got cash prizes ranging from
N150,000 to N750,000.
Speaking at the event, the Speaker said he was not
happy that no Bauchi State indigene is currently in
the lineup of the Nigerian national football team and
announced that as from 2018, he will be sponsoring
a football competition for teams from all the 20 local
government areas in Bauchi to participate in order to
brush up their talents.
He also added that he will invite officials from the
Nigerian Football Federation and local league to
bring their scouts to the event from the quarter finals
stage so that they can possibly pick from the best
players for their teams.
This way, he said, Bauchi State will be put in the Na-
tional football scene and grow to showcase her indi-
genes on the world stage.
Hon Dogara also announced the formation of his
personal club whose players will be drawn from play-
ers from the teams that participated in the just con-
cluded Dogara Unity Cup.