Nasarawa Assembly displeased with Gov Sule’s Aide on SDGs for disrespect and failure to appear before budget committee
The Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government (SSG), Dr. Shuaibu Labaran Magaji, recently issued a strong warning to members of the State Executive Council, urging them to appear before the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to defend their 2025 budget proposals and to show respect for the House as a key arm of government.
This directive emphasizes the importance of accountability and cooperation between the executive and legislative branches in the state’s governance. Dr. Magaji’s stance reflects his commitment to ensuring proper legislative oversight and respect for institutional roles within the government.
According to Dr. Magaji, no Commissioner in the state is busier than himself, so there is no valid reason for any Commissioner not to honor the invitation of the House of Assembly to defend their 2025 budget and respect the institution.
“I will appear before the State Assembly 100 times if they invited me 100 times” Dr Magaji said.
It is recalled that the current Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, nearly lost his appointment because the Nasarawa State House of Assembly initially refused to screen him. This refusal was due to his failure to appear before the lawmakers to defend the budget during his previous tenure as Commissioner for Environment. This incident underscores the importance the House places on accountability and attendance during budget defense sessions
It took the grace of the Speaker who saved him after he was directed to write a strong apology letter to the House.
These battles, experiences and advises seems not yet adhered to, as another show down is set again between the State Assembly and SSA on SDGs.
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has expressed strong disapproval of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on SDGs, Mr. Murtala Abubakar Mohammed, due to his persistent refusal to appear before the House Committee on SDGs to defend his budget. The Assembly has frowned at this nonchalant attitude, emphasizing the need for all government officials to uphold professionalism and accountability by honoring such invitations.
Hon. Onarigu Onah Kana, the Chairman House Committee on SDGs expressed the displeasure while addressing journalists in his office at the Assembly complex today
The lawmaker said the SSA persistent refusal to appear before the committee anytime he was invited for legislative activities amount to insubordination and disrespectful to the integrity of State House of Assembly.
“The committee has sent letter to SSA on 22 April, 2025 to appear before the committee today Friday 25, April, 2025 by 9:30am but he requested to appear by 10:30 which was graciously granted by the committee, unfortunately, the SSA failed to appear.
” Despite the grace of time given, members of the committee waited for more than one hour but the SSA refused to appear before the committee without any feedback”
” This is an act of indiscipline and disloyalty to the the Honourable House.
“The committee will be left with no option than to report the matter to the larger House at plenary next week for further legislative action against the SSA” He said.
The committee chairman assured of the committee’s commitment to ensure that no MDAs undermine the integrity of the House.
