Senate screens ministerial nominee Darma for Housing
The Senate on Thursday commenced screening President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministerial nominee for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, as part of efforts to strengthen the Federal
The Senate on Thursday commenced screening President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministerial nominee for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, as part of efforts to strengthen the Federal Executive Council.
Darma was ushered into the chamber at about 12:32 p.m., where he appeared before lawmakers in plenary for the constitutionally mandated exercise.
At the time of filing this report, senators had begun questioning the nominee on his professional background, policy direction, and readiness to oversee the housing sector.
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The screening followed a formal request submitted to the Senate by the President on Wednesday, seeking Darma’s confirmation.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who read the communication during plenary, referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for consideration, directing it to report back as soon as practicable.
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Darma, a trained engineer, holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano, and is expected to bring technical expertise to a ministry central to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit and urban infrastructure challenges.
However, his nomination has drawn attention due to past political controversy. As the deputy governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections, he was expelled after allegedly endorsing the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dikko Radda, at a meeting the party described as unauthorised.
Despite this, some quarters view his nomination as part of the administration’s strategy to prioritize technocratic competence in key infrastructure-driven ministries, particularly in housing, where demand continues to outpace supply in major urban centers.
The Senate is expected to conclude the screening process and take a final decision on his confirmation later in the day.
