The Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, has received the Legislative Administration Leadership Award from the National Assembly New Media Forum, recognising his visionary contribution to strengthening the institutional framework of the legislature.
The award, presented on Thursday, December 4, 2025, celebrated Danzaria’s decades of service and his role in deepening administrative efficiency within the National Assembly.
Speaking at the ceremony, Danzaria described the recognition as a “meaningful milestone” in his public service journey, adding that he was overwhelmed with gratitude.
“I’m so happy and grateful. I do not take this honour for granted,” he said, noted that despite his preference for a low profile, he was humbled that his work had been widely acknowledged.
Reflecting on his career trajectory, Danzaria narrated how he joined the National Assembly as a legislative staff member and rose through critical departments including Legal Services, Public Affairs, Finance and Supplies before eventually serving as Director of Public Affairs.
He recalled a particularly challenging start, marked by delayed posting and multiple reassignments, described those early years as both “a legislative journey and a public service adventure.”
Danzaria also recounted his hands-on experience working with committees during constitutional transition periods, following senior administrators as they advanced in their roles, and later pursuing a diploma in journalism, which strengthened his engagement with the media community.
Looking back on his time overseeing public affairs, the Clerk highlighted the growing pressure on the National Assembly’s infrastructure as the number of journalists and digital content creators increased.
“At the height of activities, between five and ten thousand people often came into the National Assembly for one business or another. This put pressure on our infrastructure, including internet services and workspaces,” he explained.
Chairman of the National Assembly New Media Forum, Clement Nwabuko, praised Danzaria’s contribution to improving legislative administration and assured him of continued collaboration.
“We hope this is just the beginning of our relationship. We will give you every support you need to succeed,” he said, recalling that the Forum was inaugurated under the Omolori-led management.
Nwabuko also drew attention to the longstanding challenges faced by new and online media practitioners seeking workspace in the National Assembly. “It has been a crisis for the mainstream media to accommodate the new media,” he noted. “Some even tried to stop them from entering the Press Centre.”
He appealed to the Clerk to support the group’s request for improved workspace access.
Responding, Dr. Danzaria reiterated his consistent advocacy for media support and recalled personally facilitating workspace opportunities for various associations in the past. “No matter how small the space is, it is always better to have a place you can call your own,” he said.
The Clerk expressed gratitude for the honour, saying the recognition would motivate him to continue strengthening administrative systems and fostering robust engagement between the legislature and the media.
He closed by expressing hope that the partnership between his office and the media community would “continue even beyond my years in public service,” adding that sustained collaboration was essential for effective legislative reportage.
