Nasarawa Assembly Suspends Screening Of Commissioner-nominees

The Nasarawa House of Assembly on Wednesday suspended the screening and confirmation of three of the 18 commissioner-nominees whose names were forwarded to it by Governor Umaru Almakura.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the affected nominees are a former Attorney-General of the state, Mohammed Abdullahi, from Karu; Salihu Ogah, from Lafia; and Yusuf Omaki, a former member of the House of Assembly, from Toto.

At the continuation of the screening on Wednesday, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Elisha Agwuadu, said the suspension was to allow for proper investigation into a series of petitions written against them from their constituencies.

He said the decision was in compliance with the provision of sections 36 (1) and 15 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees fair hearing.

Agwuadu advised the affected nominees to settle whatever differences they had with their constituencies, saying some of the petitions were backed with sworn affidavits.

The House directed its Committee on Public Complaints to look into the matter and report back to it within two weeks.

NAN reports that the governor had on October 20 forwarded a list of 18 commissioner-nominees and 20 Special Advisers to the Assembly for confirmation.

The House, however, reduced the number of special advisers to 15, one each from the 13 local government areas of the state, while the remaining two are to be appointed by the governor.