Senate chief whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi and the majority leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, have paid tributes to the retiring director of Committees in the House of Representatives, Dr AbdulKadir Bello.
They described him as an outstanding public servant whose integrity and professionalism have left an enduring mark on the National Assembly.
The lawmakers spoke at a retirement ceremony held in Abuja in honour of Bello, where senior parliamentary officials, colleagues and other dignitaries gathered to celebrate his decades of service to the legislature.
Leading the tributes, Monguno said Bello had distinguished himself as a disciplined, experienced and highly organised administrator throughout his career.
The Senate chief whip recalled working closely with Bello from his days in a State House of Assembly to the National Assembly, saying the retiring director consistently demonstrated an uncommon commitment to accountability and the protection of public resources.
He said Bello never used public office for personal enrichment or to advance his family’s interests, adding that his focus remained on delivering quality service to Nigerians.
According to Monguno, one of Bello’s greatest strengths was his ability to achieve results through consultation, cooperation and respect for due process rather than confrontation.
He urged public servants to sustain the values of honesty, accountability and professionalism that Bello exemplified throughout his career.
Also speaking, the senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Abdul Ahmed Ningi, said his years in the National Assembly had reinforced his conviction that public service must always be guided by integrity and patriotism.
Ningi stressed that the legislature was an independent arm of government with the constitutional responsibility to make laws, represent Nigerians and hold the Executive accountable.
He said the interests of the nation must always come before political party affiliation, religion or ethnicity.
The senator said age should be viewed as an opportunity to contribute more meaningfully to national development through experience and wisdom.
On his part, Doguwa described Bello as more than a friend, saying he regarded him as a brother whose contributions to the House of Representatives would remain invaluable.
He said that although Bello was retiring from active service, the House would continue to benefit from his wealth of experience and institutional memory.
Doguwa prayed for God’s continued blessings upon the retiring director and wished him a fulfilling life after retirement.
Representatives of Federal Government College, Kaduna, who also attended the ceremony, commended Bello’s diligence and acknowledged his wife’s support throughout his years in public service.
Bello thanked the leadership of the National Assembly, directors, assistant directors and members of staff for the support and cooperation he enjoyed during his career.
He called on the management of the National Assembly to place greater emphasis on continuous staff training through in-house, local and international programmes.
According to him, regular capacity building is critical to maintaining professionalism and preventing other professions from taking over responsibilities that rightly belong to parliamentary administrators.
Bello also encouraged staff members to embrace teamwork, consultation and collaboration in addressing workplace challenges, noting that no individual possesses all the knowledge required for effective service.
He expressed appreciation to all guests, colleagues and well-wishers for honouring him and prayed for continued progress and success for the National Assembly and the country.
