By Priscilla Campbell,
Minna
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has forwarded three additional names of commissioner-nominees including two women to the state House of Assembly for clearance.
Besides, the House had screened 14 out of the 17 names already for confirmation.
The speaker, Hon Abdullahi Bawa Wuse, who read the letter containing the nominees during plenary in Minna, stated that they include Mrs Tasala Fati Ibrahim, Mrs Rufkat Adamu and Dr Abubakar Baba Aliyu.
On the nominees, the member representing Gurara at the assembly, Binta Mamman, thanked the governor and speaker for responding to the appeal of the women for additional slot in the state executive cabinet.
The three nominees would be screened on Tuesday next week as moved by Mamman and seconded by member representing Bosso, Hon Malik Madaki Bosso.
It would be recalled that Mammam last week had said women were not happy and ready to protest should the additional nominees being expected did not favour them.
The lawmaker said, “The women are not happy with the list as it is not good enough. Yesterday, we read out the names of commissioner-nominees as sent by the state governor, the list was not encouraging. The government promised us that they will be women-friendly, that they were going to bring more women on board and yet, what we saw was only two women out of 17.
“I am waiting to see the three names. I hope the three names will be women. If we do not see women, honestly, we are going to stand up against the list.”
Also, the speaker read another letter from the governor seeking approval for Zenith Bank offer of N2 billion for counterpart funds with 18% interest for some vital projects by donor agencies.
The repayment of the loan, according to him, will be within 24 months including the interest.