The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday, paid tribute to Dr. Chamberlain Nnamdi Dunkwu, the late Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker.
Speaker Abbas, in his tribute at the Service of Songs held in honour of the late Dr. Chamberlain at St. Matthew’s Church (Anglican Communion), Maitama, Abuja, declared, “I will never forget Chamberlain throughout my life.”
At the service were several members of the House, including the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda; Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa; Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi; Chairman, Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Francis Waive; Chairman, Committee on Army, Hon. Aminu Balele Kurfi; Chairman, Committee on Solid Minerals, Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi; Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akin Rotimi, among many others. The wife of the Speaker, Hajiya Fatima Abbas Tajudeen, also attended the session.
A statement signed by Musa Abdullahi Krishi special adviser on media and publicity to the Speaker said Dr. Chamberlain, who passed away on March 7, 2026, was a Special Assistant to Gbajabiamila in the 9th Assembly, and later became the Deputy Chief of Staff (Members’ Affairs) to Speaker Abbas in the current 10th Assembly.
Speaker Abbas recalled countless encounters with Dr. Chamberlain, which exemplified the deceased’s loyalty, commitment, service, and sacrifices. He said for almost three years of his speakership, he worked closely with Dr. Chamberlain every day.
“I have learnt a lot from this gentleman. His humility is without any comparison. I have been in politics for quite a long time; I’m in my 60s. I’m in a house of God; it is not a place to campaign. Chamberlain is one of the few exceptional human beings that I have come across in the journey of my life that I have found with tremendous humility,” he said.
The Speaker, who described the House as “one of the most difficult institutions to manage,” with 360 people coming from diverse backgrounds, different geographies, and civilisations, stated that to manage each of them with their diversity “is not a small thing.”
“Chamberlain has been one of those who assisted me tremendously, ensuring that the House functioned and functioned well,” he stated.
While recalling how observers asked about the stability in the House despite the political and socio-economic issues in the country, which “could have otherwise triggered problems and instability,” Speaker Abbas said he tells the people that “beside me, there are other people who, behind the scene, help in no small way in supporting the leadership of the House, and the number one person among them was Chamberlain.”
In his tribute, Gbajabiamila said he had yet to come to terms with Dr. Chamberlain’s departure. “Today, this is going to be absolutely short; short because speakers, politicians, and, indeed, men are not meant to show emotions or break down. But I think if I stay here longer than I ordinarily would—because there is so much to say about Chamberlain—I would betray that belief and break down,” he said.
The Chief of Staff to the President added that, “Let us be comforted by the fact that it is not always how long you live but how well,” noting that for almost 10 years that he knew Dr. Chamberlain, “he lived a very good life.”
After his bid for speakership failed in 2015, Gbajabiamila recalled how Dr. Chamberlain became his “unofficial DG” of the campaign for his second attempt in 2019, leading to his record-making victory. “He was my tutor in many ways,” the ex-Speaker said about the deceased having so much connections with members of the 9th House.
He added that Chamber went on to campaign for Abbas Tajudeen, who won the speakership seat in 2023 and broke his record of highest votes.
Gbajabiamila said, “He made my work so easy. The Speaker, seated right here, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, inherited him when I left. It is unfortunate. I feel very sorry for Speaker Abbas because to preside over 359 other members of the House requires not just your personal gait or capacity to manage men and women; it requires somebody like Chamberlain by your side. So, I feel for you, Mr. Speaker. Your work just got more difficult.”
The Chief of Staff to the President also recalled how he used to refer to Chamberlain as the 361st member of the House.
The vicar of the church, Ven. Dr. Syrenius Okoriko, in his exhortation, said the most important question that the attendees should ponder over was, “How would you be remembered? When you are gone, what would people say about you?”
While noting that “death is a leveler of all humans” regardless of their statuses, Ven. Okoriko urged the congregation to emulate the good examples set by the late Dr. Chamberlain.
