Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Taraba State House of Assembly has concluded the screening of 21 commissioner-nominees comprising of 6 females, the highest in the history of the state.
The Chairman, House Committee on Information Honourable Nelson Len who addressed the Press after the session said that all the nominees sent to the House by the State Governor Dr Kefas Agbu were screened and cleared.
“The House is impressed with the calibre of nominees who have shown that they are suitable for the various offices they are designated. This is the first time Nominees are sent to the House with their portfolio attached to direct the screening process.
“Of course, we took our time on each nominee and end up spending two days for the exercise.
“This is to ensure that we don’t make mistakes. Taraba is at a critical stage where we really need total rebirth. Consequently, we have to ensure that the right persons are put in the right places.
The nominees screened and Local Governments are, Prof. Nicholas Oliver Namessan (Karim Lamido), Mr. George Peter(Sardauna), Mr. Gideon Samuel Nonso(Sardauna), Dr. Augustina Godwin(Jalingo), Engr. Naomi Tanko Agbu(Wukari) and Mrs. Aishat Adul-Azzez K. Barde(Zing),
Others are Dr. Sarah Enoch Adi(Wukari), Hon. Joseph Titus Nagombe(Gashaka), Dr. Bodia Gbansheya Buma(Donga), Mrs. Zainabu Usman (Jalingo), Yakubu Maikasuwa, SAN(Wukari), Mr. Habu James Philip(Bali), Comrade Julius Peter(Lau), Hon. Saviour Badzoilig Noku(Ardo -Kola), Dr. Philister Ibrahim Musa(Ussa), Mrs. Mary Sinjen(Karim Lamido), Mr. Daniel Ishaya(Ibi), Comrade Noseh Luka(Kurmi), Mr. Joseph Joshua(Takum), Mr. Usman Muslim Abdullahi (Gassol) and Mr. Yakubu S. Yakubu (Takum).
During the screening, some of the nominees spoke on their intentions if giving the chance to serve the state,
Professor Nicholas Namessan said,
“I will ensure that Taraba College of Agriculture brings back all Internally generated revenue IGR activities. I will ensure that students are taught on how to farm for profit making and be self reliance. I will ensure that Tractors aquire by government are property put into use and well maintained. I will come up with a program tagged: Women and Youths in Agriculture.
Dr. Augustina Godwin said,
“I see this as an opportunity to render my service to the state and the Nation. The problem at the Taraba State University is lack of leadership, I will set a committee with terms of reference to look into the problem. Teachers are critical in the society, I am to make the Educational system functional. As a Teacher, I will seat Teachers and profer solutions. Our Teachers have to know that they are important. I will ensure that there is massive renumeration to Teachers. I am happy that Governor Kefas Agbu declared state of emergency in the Educational sector and also promise to renovate schools in the state. If we improve renumeration to teachers, there will be no need for people to taking their children out of government schools to private. There is Educational Standard set, but implementation is the problem, so we will ensure that they are implementated. On strikes, good staff renumeration will take care of that issue. If giving high attention to staff renumeration, strikes will be thing of the past.
Naomi Tanko Agbo said,
“A state like Taraba, can easily make use of small dams to get electricity in the state for the population is not much compare to Lagos and other states. Mambilla Hydro Power Dam worth $3 Billion is enomouse, we can start in phases by partnering with developers and if completed, it will be the 2nd in Africa after Ethiopia.
“Power is expensive and not cheap in Nigeria. In Nigeria use our Power for consumption such as TV amongst others, but in developing countries, Power is use for Production, we should move from consumption to production.
Commenting on the screening, a legal practioner, Barrister P.D. Pius, Esq. said,
“Taraba State Governor’s nomination of Commissioners is unconstitutional: a bad first step. On the 6th July 2023 the Secretary of Government of Taraba State issued a statement that the Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas has approved the restructuring of the Ministries from 25 down to 21. Consequently, only 21 Commissioners will be nominated and appointed as provided by the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria with at least one from each Local Government of the State. See section 14(4) and 192 of CFRN 1999.
Surprisingly, the Governor has now purportedly nominated 21 people for confirmation by the State House of Assembly without nominating anyone from Yorro Local Government. This is purely unconstitutional, ill advised and not in line with law.
Funny enough some Local Governments had more than one nominee. For instance, Wukari have 3 nominees, Sardauna 2, Jalingo 2, Takum 2, Karim 2. Yorro is completely excluded with Zero. The screening exercise currently going on at State House of Assembly is unconstitutional, illegal and futile exercise unless a Yorro nominee is included. The Government is now left with two choice:
- To recant and deny the purported restructuring of the Ministries by creating another Ministry to accommodate a new nominee from Yorro Local Government or
- Break the heart of one of the nominees by removing his name citing error and replace him with a nominee from Yorro. Which ever, the Government chooses, it was a bad first step that should be avoided in the future. First impressions are important – he said.