Rep. Gagdi issuing an appointment letter to one of the aides
By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
The Member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has appointed 64 aides comprising special advisers, senior special assistants, and ward liaison officers in a strategic move to reinforce the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure across the constituency.
Gagdi unveiled the appointees during an official inauguration ceremony held over the weekend at his constituency office in Pankshin Local Government Area.
The appointees include three former local government chairmanship candidates who contested the October 9, 2024, elections in Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam. They have now been appointed as special advisers. Their former running mates will serve as senior special assistants, while 58 former councillorship candidates from the same election have been appointed as liaison officers, each representing one of the state electoral wards within the PKK constituency.
Explaining the rationale behind the appointments, Gagdi said the move is aimed at strengthening the APC at the grassroots, enhancing his own constituency representation, and preparing the party for future electoral contests.
“The survival of our party is more important,” he declared. “We must build and sustain the APC structure for the future—to keep the presidency under our party, to recover what we couldn’t achieve in 2023, and to secure our chances in 2027, including the possibility of producing a governor from Kanke.”
He acknowledged that while the APC still maintains a foothold in Plateau State, the party lacks executive control at the state level. He stressed that those who contested and won elections at the local level but were not declared winners deserve recognition, especially after favorable rulings by the election petition tribunal.
Gagdi emphasized that the appointments go beyond politics, stating they are grounded in governance and representation.
“It is not right to leave these capable individuals stranded after what they invested during the elections. They have their own ideas and aspirations. With these appointments, they will play key roles in coordinating my constituency activities and the party’s operations in all 58 wards,” he said.
He outlined three main purposes for the initiative: mobilizing grassroots support, relaying community concerns to his office in Abuja and Jos, and gathering regular feedback on ongoing projects and development needs in the constituency.
“Across the 58 federal wards, we need representatives who can update us on the progress of projects like borehole installations and repairs. It’s important to know which facilities are malfunctioning so that we can take steps to restore them and ensure people have access to water,” he said. “We expect over 500 to 600 such locations across PKK, and we need reliable hands on the ground.”
Gagdi explained that the liaison officers would work directly with his legislative aides to harmonize community concerns, flag issues requiring intervention, and facilitate communication between his office and constituents. He noted that the aides would also serve as his communication network, helping disseminate his legislative priorities and development plans at the grassroots.
He disclosed that the appointments are personally funded, not drawn from constituency project funds. According to him, each special adviser will receive N150,000 monthly, senior special assistants N100,000, and liaison officers N50,000.
“This is from my personal goodwill. If I can contribute this way, I expect other leaders to do the same. Our people deserve this level of commitment,” he said.
In addition to monthly remuneration, Gagdi also promised to provide 61 brand new motorcycles to the senior special assistants and liaison officers. Each motorcycle, worth N1.6 million, is intended to aid mobility and ensure the aides can effectively reach their communities. He said the appointees would be required to sign undertakings before receiving the motorcycles, which are strictly for constituency duties.
To ensure accountability, Gagdi said each beneficiary would sign an undertaking before receiving their motorcycles, stressing that the vehicles are strictly for constituency-related duties, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
He reiterated that the appointments are not symbolic but functional, aimed at consolidating APC’s grassroots presence, deepening feedback mechanisms, and ensuring that no ward in PKK is left behind in the execution and monitoring of constituency projects.
“This is about building a lasting structure. It is not just politics; it’s service. And I believe that with this team on ground, our constituency will not only feel my presence but also see tangible results,” Gagdi said.
