The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has expressed deep displeasure over what it described as the persistent act of insubordination and disrespect by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mr. Murtala Abubakar Mohammed, following his repeated refusal to honour invitations extended to him by the House Committee on SDGs.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Onarigu Onah Kana, made this known while briefing journalists at the Assembly complex in Lafia on Friday.
According to Hon. Kana, the committee had sent a formal invitation to the SSA on April 22, 2025, requesting his appearance before the committee on Friday, April 25, 2025, by 9:30 am to defend his 2025 budget.
However, the SSA requested a rescheduling to 10:30 am a request that was graciously granted. Despite this accommodation, Mr. Mohammed failed to appear and did not communicate any reason for his absence.
“This act is not only disrespectful to the Committee but a total disregard for the entire legislature.
It is a clear case of indiscipline and disloyalty to the Honourable House,” Hon. Kana stated.
He revealed that the committee will escalate the matter to the House plenary next week for further legislative action, noting that such behavior will no longer be tolerated from any government appointee.
This development comes just days after the Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government (SSG), Dr. Shuaibu Labaran Magaji, issued a stern warning to all members of the State Executive Council to respect the legislative arm and appear before the House to defend their respective budgets.
“No commissioner or appointee is busier than myself,” Dr. Magaji stated during a press briefing. “If the Assembly invites me 100 times, I will appear 100 times. That is the respect due to an arm of government.”
Observers recall a similar incident during the last administration when Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, then Commissioner for Environment, was nearly denied screening for reappointment due to his failure to appear before the Assembly for budget defence.
He was only pardoned after the Speaker intervened and he tendered a written apology.
Despite such precedents and cautionary advice from top government officials, the issue of executive disregard for legislative summons continues to stir tension between the two arms of government.
The House Committee on SDGs has reiterated its resolve to ensure that no agency or official undermines the integrity and constitutional mandate of the legislature.
