The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has expressed strong displeasure over the continued absence of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mr. Murtala Abubakar Mohammed, from legislative proceedings.
The Assembly warned that his actions amount to disrespect and insubordination.
Mr. Mohammed reportedly failed to honor multiple invitations from the House Committee on SDGs, including one scheduled for Friday, despite a rescheduled time at his own request.
According to Hon. Onarigu Onah Kana, Chairman of the House Committee on SDGs, the SSA was initially invited for 9:30 a.m. but requested to appear by 10:30 a.m.—a change the committee granted.
However, he still failed to show up or provide any formal communication.
“This is an act of indiscipline and disloyalty to the Honourable House,” said Hon. Kana during a press briefing at the Assembly Complex.
He added that the matter would be reported to the full House during plenary next week for further legislative action.
The House reaffirmed its commitment to upholding legislative oversight and warned that no government official or MDA (Ministry, Department, or Agency) will be allowed to undermine the authority of the Assembly.
This development comes just days after the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Shuaibu Labaran Magaji, strongly urged all commissioners and state officials to respect legislative processes.
He emphasized that no official is too busy to appear before the House to defend their budget, citing his own willingness to appear “100 times if invited 100 times.”
The Assembly also recalled a similar incident involving the current Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, who almost lost his appointment due to a previous failure to appear before the House for budget defence.
