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Olabode Adaramola Minna
The Niger State House of Assembly on Wednesday confirmed Barr. Bello Ahmed Agwara as commissioner, following a dramatic reversal of its earlier decision to suspend his screening.
Agwara’s nomination had been temporarily stepped down during Tuesday’s plenary after lawmakers raised concerns about his previous actions as a former legislator.
He was accused of having sued the Assembly during his earlier tenure, an act some members viewed as a breach of the oath of allegiance and office.
The nominee, who appeared alongside nine others for screening on Tuesday, faced stiff opposition from several legislators who demanded that the executive withdraw his name from the list.
However, prior to Wednesday’s session, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon.(Barr.) Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, announced that the matter had been resolved following a closed-door interface with the nominee.
In defense of the Assembly’s initial stance, Muhammed Sani Idris, Member representing Tafa Constituency, clarified that the decision to pause the screening was procedural rather than punitive.
“We did that not on a personal basis. We interviewed the nominee and we established that there was a gap somewhere and that is what resulted in the misinterpretation,” he said. “We still recognise him as one of our own. We didn’t do so to rubbish him but we did it because of the training we had which states that whatever we do, we should put our constituency, state, and nation first.”
Speaking to journalists after his confirmation, Agwara expressed his readiness to work collaboratively with the legislature.
He said, “This is politics and on our part, we will continue to give our own support and play our part,” .
With his confirmation, Agwara joins 19 other nominees who have successfully passed the screening as the Assembly continues its review of the governor’s list of commissioner designates
