Rabiu Omaku
It was a stalemate yesterday at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly as the State lawmakers suspended the screening of Honorable Yakubu Kwanta, A Commissioner nominee of the State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule.
Kwanta, Is the immediate past Commissioner representing Akwanga Local Government Area of the State screening because of his inability to appear before the State lawmakers during budget defense before the dissolution of cabinet members by the Governor recently.
Before the dissolution, Honorable Yakubu Kwanta was having a running battle with the Assembly which was dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress members.
He was under fire for the stoppage of a certified miner at Kure Community of Kokona Local Government.
Kwanta, It could be recalled was having a running battle with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals, At the Nation’s capital, according to an insider from Timadix Geomin Consult Limited listing them as illegal miners.
A source from Timadix Geomin Consult Limited averred that the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals has since deployed mining Marshals to take over the controversial mining site which was applied for by the indigenous mining firm.
Nasarawa State House of Assembly has screened 7 Commissioner nominees on its first day sitting for the exercise.
The House of Assembly has however, suspended the screening of Hon. Yakubu Kwanta, the immediate past Commissioner for Environment over his failure to appear before the House Committee on Environment to defend the ministry’s 2024 budget performance when he served as commissioner of the ministry.
The Lawmakers also cited his failure to appear before the House on invitation describing it as a total act of insubordination to an institution that screened and confirmed him as a Commissioner for two consecutive times.
Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau stepped down the screening when the member representing Keana Constituency and Chairman House Committee on Environment Hon. Muhammed Adamu Omadefu raised the issue during the screening of Commissioner nominees at the Assembly complex in Lafia today.
The Speaker said that the House would only consider him for the screening if he sent a strong apology letter to the House over his act of indiscipline and insubordination to the House when he was a commissioner of the Ministry of Environment.
The Speaker suspended Kwanta screening when he and the other 7 commissioner nominees appeared for their screening during the House proceedings in Lafia today.
He said that the assembly would not allow any Government officials to undermine the powers of the House.
” Hon Yakubu Kwanta should send a strong apology letter 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.
Earlier, Hon Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, the Chairmen, the House Committee on Housing and Environment cited various constitutional provisions that banned a nominee from appearing in the hallowed Chamber for screening.
” 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.
On their parts, Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, Hon Ajegana Jacob Kudu and Hon. Hudu A Hudu also supported the submission of Hon Omadefu and called for an apology from Hon. Yakubu Kwanta to save the integrity of the House.
They said that for Hon. Kwanta to fail to appear to defend his ministry budget, he has disrespected not only the committee but the entire House stressing no individual can be greater or allowed to undermine the institution.
However, the House has screened 7 out of the 16 commissioner nominees submitted by Gov. Abdullahi Sule on Feb.10. for approval as Members of the State Executive Council.
The Speaker congratulated the nominees and urged them to discharge their duties with the fear of God, if finally 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 Itake 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 Other Purposes Connected Thereto passed the first reading on 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 slated 24th February 2025 for the second reading of the bill.
