Senator Abdul-Azeez Nyako has called for more powers for the Senate to sanction erring government officials and organisations in addition to the power that it exercises to screen and confirm major appointments by Mr President.
Nyako told newsmen in Yola that growing cases of disrespect to the legislative arm by some government officials and organisations makes it necessary for the Senate to have definitive power over such officials.
He said such officials were arrogant, constantly ignoring National Assembly summons to clarify issues bordering on accountability.
“This sad development is weakening the legislative arm of government and something needs to be done to save it from getting weaker in the interest of democracy,” Nyako said.
Stating that the legislature is the backbone of democracy which must be saved for democracy to grow, the senator reiterated, “We need powers to appoint and remove; someone with power to approve appointments should also have powers to take away such appointments.”
Nyako, a senator representing the Adamawa Central Zone, elected in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) but left for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and obtained its ticket for the coming governorship election, said at a town hall meeting that he is not seeking to be governor for an opportunity to dethrone the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Mustafa, as being speculated by his opponents.
Nyako said his problem with the Lamido which led to his removal as the youth leader (Sarkin Matasa) of the Adamawa Emirate by the Lamido was a bygone issue.
“I am not that vindictive. My interest is not to retaliate; we have enormous problems in Adamawa and my desire is to contribute in solving them. What transpired between Lamido and I, for me that matter is over. This is not political talk, it is true talk from the heart,” Nyako said.
Leave a Reply