By Haruna Salami
The Senate on Thursday screened and confirmed the nomination of Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma for appointment as a Minister of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The confirmation followed a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) to consider President Bola Tinubu’s request in accordance with Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution.
The nominee, Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, began with a brief introduction of his background and experience.
In his response the nominee, Dr. Darma thanked the Senate and responded as follows:
Housing Strategy: He acknowledged the scale of Nigeria’s housing deficit and stressed the need for strong leadership, improved coordination, and policies to enhance affordability and accessibility.
Affordable Housing: He emphasized collaboration with stakeholders and the need to design financing models that enable citizens to own homes.
Philanthropy: He confirmed his continued commitment to social development, citing the establishment of a human development centre in Katsina State, which has trained over 167,000 youths since 2013.
Pension Funds: He pledged to work collaboratively with relevant institutions to ensure pension funds contribute more effectively to housing delivery.
He highlighted reforms he implemented that transformed the agency into a high-performing institution, pledging to replicate similar success in the housing sector.
Insecurity: He noted his academic work on insecurity, including publications linking poverty and drug abuse to criminality, and expressed readiness to contribute policy solutions at the federal level.
Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (Katsina Central) strongly endorsed the nominee, noting that all three senators from Katsina State supported the nomination.
He highlighted that the nominee’s competence, discipline, and track record in public service.
Yar’adua talked the nominee’s mentorship under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, his performance as Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and urged his colleagues to confirm the nomination.
Other Senators like Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), Mohammed Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), spoke in support of Darma’s nomination.
Dr. Darma responded this:
Abandoned Housing Projects: He pledged to collaborate with relevant agencies to identify, rehabilitate, and allocate abandoned housing units efficiently.
Urban Planning and Abuja Master Plan: He acknowledged the deterioration of planning standards and committed to working with relevant authorities, including the Federal Capital Territory Administration, to restore order and ensure sustainable urban development.
Collaboration: He emphasized that effective delivery would depend on strong inter-agency cooperation and stakeholder engagement.
Following deliberations, the Senate put the nomination to a voice vote. The “ayes” prevailed, and the Senate confirmed Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Senate President congratulated the nominee and urged him to justify the confidence reposed in him by delivering on his mandate and meeting Nigerians’ expectations.
He said the Senate confirmed the request of President Tinubu’s nominee as the Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
