Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi
Member, House of Representatives
Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency
9th Assembly of the House of Representatives
Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi is a member of the 9th House of Representatives, representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency. He was elected in 2019 after serving at the Plateau State House of Assembly. He currently serves as the Chairman, House Committee of the Nigerian Navy. In 2023, he was re-elected to the House by the people of Plateau State.

Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi was born on November 5, 1980 in Gum, Gagdi Ward, Kanam Local Government Area (LGA) to the family of Mallam Adamu and Mallama Hauwa Yusuf. His father was a spiritual leader in the community, but also a Quranic teacher. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi got his Islamic education under the tutelage and guidance of his father, through which he learned the virtues of simplicity and compassion, hardwork and dedication, philanthropy, modesty and love for humanity.
Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi attended LEA Central Primary School, Gum-Gagdi, where he obtained his First Leaving School Certificate before he proceeded to Government Secondary School, Gagdi for his Junior Secondary Education. He later transferred to Dengi, where he had his Senior secondary education graduating in 1999. His transfer to the Government Secondary School, Dengi was his first time leaving his immediate community of Gum-Gagdi to his local government headquarters. an indication of how humble his background was.

He got admitted to study Social Studies (Double Major) at Federal College Education (FCE) Pankshin and resumed with only a few clothes, a few measures of maize flour. It may surprise many to note that by the nature of how things were for him; he could not afford to rent a room of his own for accommodation; as a result, he had to squat with the Chief Security man, Keyin Fittoka at the College gate.

That challenge played a very significant role in shaping his worldview. It aided in building his ideology of exceptional generosity as he always said that he knows what it means to be poor. He navigated through the initial hiccup of life challenges and difficulties at Federal College of Education (FCE) Pankshin and made a name for himself as one of the most vibrant and outstanding Chief Judges of the Students’ Union Government in the history of the institution.

Three years later, instead of going home with a freshly minted Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), he chose to move to Jos to add his educational laurels. During his time in Jos, he formed a valuable bond with his guardian, the late Rt. Hon. Usman Zumunta Musa, who was then the Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly. This relationship allowed him to gain knowledge and experience in both politics and governance, as he learned under his mentor’s guidance.

While working for his mentor, the late Hon. Usman Zumunta Musa, Hon. Gagdi took on a teaching position in Jos to support himself financially and pay for his studies at the University of Jos.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics Education from the University of Jos and got employed by the Plateau State Teachers’ Service Commission. He was posted to Government Secondary School, Angwan Rogo, Jos. He was later seconded to the Office of the Head of Service of the State, where he served the Head of Service, the late Dr. Godfrey Mamzhi as his Personal Assistant.

In that capacity, he facilitated employment for more than 20 persons in the State Civil Service. As a young man then in his twenties, getting permanent and pensionable employment to friends, peers and associates is an indication of how great the mind of such a person is and also a pointer to what an outstanding future that lies ahead. To the glory of God, it has continued to manifest to the admiration of many. No wonder that he has continued to add value in everything he does since then, thus, establishing the fact that it has always been in his DNA.

He holds a PGD in Conflict Management and M.Sc. in Peace and conflict management from the University of Jos. He is currently undergoing a PhD in Conflict Management from University of Jos.

His journey in the State Civil Service was short- lived after realizing his potential for impactful and sustainable changes for the Nigerian people within governance and politics. He voluntarily resigned from the service of the state and joined politics. It was indeed a choice he would have lived to have respected.

His first sojourn in politics started with a determination to serve and learn from those in the political turf and that was how he got close and became a personal aide to the then Deputy Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly, late Rt. Hon. Usman Zumunta Musa. His commitment, dedication to assigned responsibilities, meticulousness and absolute loyalty made him become a darling aide. His hard work to deliver on any given assignment was quite glaring.

Gagdi’s political journey as a legislator started in 2011, when he contested for Kantana Constituency in Plateau State Assembly. Having learnt the ropes of politics and political activism, Gagdi threw his hat to contest for the seat of the State House of Assembly in 2011 to represent the Kantana State Constituency, an election that he narrowly lost to the then incumbent. It was an election that came with many twists and turns but provided a significant learning curve, which groundwork for future successes and prepared him for future political engagements.

Hon. Gagdi lost the election but later became the State Financial Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He also served as a member of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority governing board and eventually became the pro tem Chairman of the board. In both roles, he performed exceptionally well.

In 2015, Hon. Gagdi contested again to represent the Kantana constituency in the State House of Assembly and won overwhelmingly. One spectacular issue as regards the election was that, he was able to swim across the wave of the APC sak mantra of 2015, he was the only person that won the election on the platform of the PDP in Kanam LGA. It was very obvious that the people voted for Gagdi as a person not the PDP to the State House of Assembly. His colleagues and honourable members made him the Deputy Speaker of the 8th Assembly of Plateau State.

Oblivious of the fact that his people elected him even though they are mainly supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party, he decided to follow the wish and yearnings of the majority people of his constituency and local government and cross carpeted from the PDP to APC.

Gagdi served as a state legislator for a single term between 2015 to 2019 during which he made great strides and positive contributions to his constituency and Plateau State. As a state assembly member, Gagdi was loved by his people. He was the first state assembly member to pay for the West African Senior Examination Council (WAEC) registration for his constituents.

Under Gagdi’s leadership, classes were established in schools, numerous roads were constructed, primary health care centers were built and befitting palaces were also built. In addition to earlier exploits, Gagdi introduced refund of registration fees to candidates, including a constituency wide refund for Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), West African Senior Examination Council and National Examinations Council (NECO) fees. This included the refund of external examination fees to private and missionary schools within the PKK constituency.

Following his wide range of accomplishments and given his charisma among his fellow state assembly members, Gagdi was elected the Deputy speaker Plateau State House of Assembly in 2015.

After his term tenure as State assembly member, Gagdi was called by the good people of PKK to run for the office of National Assembly member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam and defeated the incumbent in 2019 general elections.

In 2019, he won the elections to the House of Representatives and quickly made great strides and impact at the House. He was appointed Chairman of the House Committee of the Nigerian Navy and a member of 18 other committees. Despite being a first-time member, he presented 20 Bills before the House and moved over 7 motions on critical national issues. Impressively, 6 of his Bills were assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari including the Federal College of Education, Dengi –Kanam (Establishment) Bill, 2022, Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa (Est) Bill, 2021, Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2020, Federal University of Education, Pankshin (Establishment) Bill 2020, National Hydrographic Agency (Establishment) Bill 2020 and the Maritime Security Operations Co-operation Board Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Hon. Gagdi’s commitment to ensuring peace, stability and security in Nigeria is evident in his push for policing system reforms. He sponsored the Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2020, as the then colonial 1943 Police Act regulated the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for 77 years and was no longer fit for purpose. Through its implementation, the 2020 Police Act provides for a more efficient and effective police service that is based on the principles of accountability, transparency, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and partnership with other security agencies. It also brings about a modern Police that is responsive to the security needs of Nigeria citizens at all levels. He further championed the Nigerian Police Academy (Establishment, Etc.) Bill, 2020 to ensure that the members of the police force are well trained and equipped to deliver in their mandate to serve and to protect the Nigerian people.

During the 9th Assembly, Gagdi’s Constitutional reforms centered on two key amendments. Firstly, an increase in the retirement age for Judicial officers and related matters as outlined in Section 291 of the Constitution. Secondly, a proposed alteration to Section 215, which pertains to the appointment of the Inspector-General and control of the Nigeria Police Force.

Rt. Hon. Gagdi’s commitment to education continued at the House as he championed the Federal College of Education, Dengi –Kanam (Establishment) Bill, 2022, Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa (Est) Bill, 2021, the Federal University of Education, Pankshin (Establishment) Bill 2020, and Nigerian Police Academy (Establishment, Etc.) Bill, 2020. He consistently sponsored the education of individuals from his constituency.

Rt. Hon. Gagdi Commitment to accountability and transparency is manifested in his performanc of his oversight responsibilities while serving as the Chairman, House Committee Nigerian Navy and other House committees.