Nasarawa Assembly screens 7 Commissioner nominees, postpones Kwanta Yakubu’s screening over insubordination
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has initiated the screening process for 16 commissioner nominees submitted by Governor Abdullahi Sule. On the first day of the exercise, seven nominees were screened, while Former Commissioner for Environment, Yakubu Kwanta, was placed on hold due to reported insubordination as announced by Speaker Danladi Jatau during the assembly session in Lafia.
The governor had previously dissolved his cabinet to appoint technocrats aimed at enhancing service delivery to the citizens.
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has suspended the screening of Hon. Yakubu Kwanta, the immediate-past Commissioner for Environment, because he did not appear before the House committee on Environment to defend the ministry’s 2024 budget performance during his tenure as commissioner
Lawmakers further criticized his failure to appear before the House when invited, viewing it as an act of total disrespect to the institution that had confirmed him as Commissioner twice.
During the screening of commissioner nominees at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Monday, Speaker Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau suspended the screening of Hon. Yakubu Kwanta, the immediate past Commissioner for Environment.
This decision was prompted by Hon. Muhammed Adamu Omadefu, the member representing Keana Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, who raised concerns about Kwanta’s failure to appear before the committee to defend his ministry’s 2024 budget performance.
Speaker Jatau stated that Kwanta’s absence was seen as an affront to the legislative institution and indicated that his nomination would not proceed unless he submitted a formal apology to the House. Out of 16 commissioner nominees submitted by Governor Abdullahi Sule, seven were screened successfully today
The Speaker suspended the screening of Kwanta when he and 7 other commissioner nominees appeared for screening during the House proceedings on Monday in Lafia, the State capital. He emphasized that the assembly would not tolerate government officials undermining the powers of the House.
” Hon Yakubu Kwanta should send strong apology latter to the House over his action when he served as commissioner before we will think of considering him or not for the screening” he said.
Hon. Muhammed Adamu Omadefu, APC, Keana and Chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Environment, cited constitutional provisions that he claimed prohibit a nominee from appearing in the hallowed chamber for screening2
” Hon Speaker and my Honourable colleagues, the nominee, Hon. Yakubu Kwanta, the immediate past Commissioner for Environment during our oversight functions, he failed to appear before our committee to defend his ministry budget.
” For his failure to appear before this House to explain why he failed to defend his ministry’s budget performance., he should tender strong apology before we consider him to appear in this hallowed chamber for screening” he said.
Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, (APC Toto), Hon Ajegana Jacob Kudu and Hon. Hudu A Hudu concurred with the submission of Hon Omadefu and urged Hon. Yakubu Kwanta to offer an apology in order to safeguard the integrity of the House.
According to them, Hon. Kwanta’s absence to defend his ministry’s budget is a sign of disrespect to both the committee and the entire House, stressing that no individual is greater than the institution or can be allowed to undermine it.
However, the House has vetted 7 of the 16 commissioner nominees submitted by Gov. Abdullahi Sule on February 10 for approval as members of the State Executive Council.
The Speaker congratulated the nominees and advised them to perform their duties with the fear of God, if confirmed and sworn in as members of the State Executive Council.
“We hereby screened Hon Umar Tanko Tunga from Awe LGA, Dr John DW Mamman from Kokona LGA, Hajiya Munirat Abdullahi from Doma LGA, Mr Gabriel Agbashi from Doma LGA, Barr Isaac Danladi from Karu LGA, Princess Margret Itaki Elayo from Keana LGA and Dr Ibrahim Tanko from Keffi LGA.
Earlier, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Suleiman Yakubu Azara (APC-Awe North) moved a motion for the screening of the commissioner nominees which was seconded by the House Minority Leader, Hon. Luka Zhekaba (PDP- Obi 11).
The House unanimously screened 7 commissioner nominees after lawmakers from their various constituencies gave good testimonies in favour of the nominees to add value to the governance of the state.
In a related development, A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment of Nasarawa State House of Assembly Legislative Budget Office and for Other purposes Connected Thereto passes first reading at the floor of the House.
The bill is being sponsored by Rt. Hon. Abel Yakubu Bala, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House and member representing Nassarawa Eggon West constituency.
The Speaker has set 24th February, 2025, as the date for the second reading of the bill. The list of nominees comprises individuals from various local government areas, including Yakubu Kwanta from Akwanga and Hajiya Munirat Abdullahi from Doma. The assembly is expected to proceed with the screening process in the coming days.
