By Comrade Tajudeen Habeeb (Tallest)
When Honourable Muktar Tolani Shagaya won election to the House of Representatives in February 2023 to represent the Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency of Kwara State, the expectations were measured. He was young, politically untested, and stepping out from the long shadow of a wealthy, prominent family. The question on many lips was whether he would govern or merely occupy.
For some of us, it felt like a repetition of the elite political exports, all optics with no substance. Barely three years into his first term, that question has been firmly answered. And, of course, it is to the benefit of the people.
A few days ago, I saw him at the inspection site of his facilitated ICT centre in partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission at Alapa Community Secondary School in Asa Local Government Area. I first learned of the project in 2024 during a visit to the NCC headquarters in Abuja to pursue another project for my alma mater. The project handler had told me of the need to put pressure on funding.
As a man with an open-door policy, particularly regarding the youths of his constituency, I walked into his office at the National Assembly complex in Abuja and discussed my findings. He assured me he would pursue it to the letter. Long forgotten by me, Shagaya showed where his priority lies: sustainable growth for his constituency, anchored on access to modern equipment and educational development.
Since assuming office, Shagaya has sponsored about ten bills, co-sponsored several others, and introduced a number of motions in the House of Representatives. That is not merely a symbolic record; it is a description of Oloba Shaggy (as he is fondly called) as a lawmaker who treats the chamber as a workspace, not a hall of titles.
Among his most consequential legislative efforts is a bill seeking to amend the Universal Basic Education Act. The bill aims to raise the allocation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the Universal Basic Education Commission from two percent to four percent, a measure that, if enacted, would significantly improve the quality and reach of basic education across Nigeria. For the deputy chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, this is no coincidence. It is deliberate policy alignment.
He has also sponsored bills for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Afon, Kwara State, a bill for Federal Cancer Research and Treatment Centres across all geo-political zones of Nigeria, and legislation on state policing. As we say on the street, Tolani isn’t playing.
However, the trend in Nigeria’s political and governance space does not measure a legislator solely by the number of bills or motions raised on the floor of the house. It equally considers substantive impact in terms of projects and human capital development. On this count, Shagaya has surpassed many expectations.
He has overseen the installation of hundreds of solar streetlights across 29 wards in Ilorin West and Asa Local Governments, an initiative aimed at enhancing both security and accessibility for communities. This is particularly significant in a country where rural communities routinely lose productivity and safety to darkness after sundown.
He has also championed the construction and renovation of public schools within the constituency, ensuring that learning environments are equipped with modern facilities and staffed by qualified teachers. Medical outreach programmes have brought free health consultations, drugs, and prescription glasses to residents who would otherwise spend their fortunes to access such care.
Fertilisers and sprays have been distributed to farmers, and capacity-building sessions organised through the Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology have trained women and youths in fish farming and soap making, enhancing productivity in the informal sector through adequate knowledge.
He has facilitated sustainable employment for the youths of his constituency in various government agencies and ministries, influenced political appointments, and empowered several others on their educational journey and enterprise.
What sets Shagaya apart from many of his contemporaries is not just the volume of his interventions, but the method behind them. He began his tenure with an unprecedented town hall meeting in Afon, Asa Local Government, gathering stakeholders from various sectors, community leaders, local artisans, women, youths, and the elderly to listen to their needs before determining his priorities. In Nigerian politics, this kind of consultation is rare enough to be newsworthy.
Representative democracy is a contract: a constituency entrusts a lawmaker with its voice, and the lawmaker is expected to carry that voice into the hall of power and return with results. By any reasonable measure, Honourable Muktar Tolani Shagaya has honoured that contract.
His legislative output demonstrates seriousness at the national level. His constituency projects demonstrate commitment at the local level. His accessibility and community engagement demonstrate something rarer, painting him as a politician who has not forgotten where he came from.
Ilorin West and Asa deserve continuity of this kind of representation. It is a good turn, and as the saying goes, one good turn deserves another.
Let us go with Shagaya again in 2027. He has proven his capacity and will continue to represent us well.
Comrade Tajudeen Habeeb (Tallest) writes from APC Adewole Ward, Kwara State.