Niger Assembly Suspends Screening of Ex-Deputy Speaker as Commissioner

A mild drama unfolded at the Niger State House of Assembly on Tuesday as the screening of commissioner nominees hit a snag over the nomination of a former deputy speaker.
The commissioner-designate, Hon. Bello Agwara, a four-time legislator from Agwara Local Government Area, faced stiff opposition from members shortly after presenting his credentials. The chief whip and member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Abubakar, moved a motion to step down Agwara’s nomination, citing his “many sins” against the Assembly during his 16 years of service.
Members accused Agwara of using his privileged position to access sensitive House documents, which he allegedly used to sue the Assembly in court, obtaining a judgment against the institution instead of exhausting internal mechanisms. They argued that such actions violated his oath of office and questioned his suitability to hold a sensitive public position like commissioner.
Additionally, concerns were raised regarding Agwara’s political affiliation. Lawmakers contended that he was not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time of his nomination and lacked proper documentation confirming defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at both ward and state levels.
Despite calls from several members for outright rejection, Speaker Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji intervened, urging that the matter be referred to an executive session for further deliberation. Following heated debates, the Assembly agreed to step down Agwara’s screening. The embattled former legislator later met with key members behind closed doors in the Speaker’s office.
Meanwhile, the House successfully screened and cleared nine out of the 30 commissioner nominees during Tuesday’s sitting. The process is set to continue on Wednesday.
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