Bauchi Assembly withdraws commissioner’s confirmation

Bauchi State House of Assembly, yesterday, withdrew its earlier confirmation of Commissioner of Education, Dr. Aliyu Tilde, citing alleged disrespect of lawmakers during budget defence.

The House had on Friday ordered Tilde out of the defence hearing for keeping it waiting for one hour after the scheduled 10:00 a.m. appointment.

Chairman of the House Committee on Education and member representing Hardawa Constituency, Babayo Muhammad, said: “We told him we are members of the legislature and another arm of government. He still kept asking who we are. Therefore, we asked him to go. When he realises that we are somebody, he should come back for the defence. We have only eight days, from today, to end the budget defence proceedings.”

The House deliberated on the conduct of the commissioner and concluded it had been insulted. It also noted that it has the constitutional power to confirm and or withdraw confirmation of any government appointee.

It unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in the commissioner and directed the Permanent Secretary of the ministry to continue with the defence. Thereafter, the House withdrew its August 17, 2021 confirmation of Tilde as commissioner.

The Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman, who presided over the plenary, maintained that the House has power to withdraw confirmations. Majority Leader, Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu, also defended this position.

Asked to react, Tilde told The Guardian in a text message: “No comment until tomorrow, after 10:00 a.m.”