Right Honourable Tukur Bala Bodinga is the Speaker of the 10th Sokoto State House of Assembly. He represents Bodinga North Constituency. He was first elected member in 2019. But in 2023, he was unanimously elected Speaker by his fellow members due to their implicit confidence in his capacity to effectively lead the House. Two years down the road, he has not only kept the House very quiet, but has also led it very productively, while maintaining a robust relationship with the other arms of government, especially with the all-powerful Executive.

In this interactive session with journalists, Bodinga spoke about the fundamental and constitutional functions of the Assembly which is to enact new laws, amend or repeal existing laws and carry out a diligent oversight of the executive, the challenge of managing the members of the Assembly. He is overwhelmed with joy that the House, within two years of operation, has been able to pass 25 consequential bills, including the very thoughtful bill on Mandatory and Compulsory premarital medical screening, the bill to curb extravagances in marriage and many others.

Significantly, the harmonious bond between the lawmakers and the executive arm of the government led by Governor Ahmad Aliyu is so strong that the House is set to pass a vote of confidence on the governor for his sterling performance in delivering democratic dividends to the citizens of the state since inception of his administration.

The Assembly, Bodinga disclosed, would also ask the State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to give the governor an automatic ticket for the 2027 governorship election. According to the Speaker, the vote of confidence is the Assembly’s way of thanking the governor for doing fantastically well adding that he deserves another term to complete the good work in the development of Sokoto state. “One good term, deserves another” said Bodinga.

He said further that the current government delivered over 250 projects in 2024, and has so far in 2025 clearly shown more determination to touch the lives of the people positively. He stated that the governor had built roads, houses and empowered the people, especially the poor.

“Look at the Katin Sauki (buy cheap shop) that he opened for public servants and pensioners; it is a policy driven by the governor’s concern for the poor. The foodstuffs that are sold in the shop are subsidized by 20 per cent. How can we in good conscience not support the governor over such a laudable programme?” he asked.

In the area of security, the Speaker disclosed that the governor had acquired over 140 buffalo vehicles, motorcycles and built a military base at Illela for the Army because of his desire to see that bandits terrorizing the people are defeated in no time.

“There is also financial support for the security agencies in addition to logistics support that has led to the noticeable reduction in the activities of these bandits,” he said, adding that “it is because of the huge investment of the government and the determination of the governor to secure the people.”

According to the Speaker, Governor Aliyu has never held back his support for the security agencies, because the people killed are his citizens and that contrary to accusations by the opposition, the governor is very responsible and alive to his duty as governor and that he is up and doing in terms of security of the state.

“I want to assure Nigerians that the governor is doing well. All that he needs is the continued support and encouragement from the people and the press,” Bodinga said.

“We are satisfied with the way he is running the state and the fact that he consults widely. The governor takes our advice collectively and individually because he relates with us. We have no reason to complain. The governor is not arrogant, and that has helped a lot.”

The other qualities that make the governor deserving of a second term are his humility, accountability and transparency in the management of the resources of the state.

“He is a good man; highly religious. He is calm and a good listener, who also consults widely before taking any decision. He is also very firm, and decisive, a democrat who takes his assignment as governor seriously,” said the Speaker.

He added, that the governor doesn’t see his position as a stepping stone to the presidency, for him the people elected him to be governor and that is what he is committed to doing, stressing that bettering the life of the people is his constant preoccupation.

“Governor Ahmad Aliyu is not squandering the resources of our dear state. He is focused on his assignment, and he is giving it his all. The governor has more than justified his election, and this is a general consensus of the people.

“The governor is a complete gentleman who can’t hurt a fly. When I say that he is a gentleman, I mean that he is a complete gentleman in every sense of the word, but he can show you his other side especially when it comes to issues about the development of the state.

“The opposition has been insulting him, but he has always ignored them because he understands that their ploy was to distract him. And this is the secret of his superlative performance,” Bodinga said.

The Sokoto State house of Assembly, he said, has been provided the necessary legislative support that has enabled the governor to accomplish all that he has achieved.

“We deserve his support because we are partners in progress. We have always supported the governor in everything that has to do with the development of the state. Our support is not blind, but what can we do when the governor is doing well?” he asked.

He said the opposition in the state has not been fair to the governor who has been up and doing on the issue of insecurity, confronting the state and indeed other North-West states.

“By the way, you don’t expect the opposition to be fair to the government, which in two years has performed spectacularly well,” he said.
And what gladdens the heart of Bodinga is the capacity and resourcefulness of the state lawmakers who he praised for having passed a total of 25 bills in the last two years.

He explained that 22 of the bills have been assented to by Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto while three are awaiting transmission to the governor for assent.

Bodinga said one of the outstanding bills is the “Mandatory and Compulsory Premarital Medical Screening” bill, which aimed at reducing the risk of genetic disorders and infectious diseases amongst intending couples.

The speaker noted that the Assembly has achieved the major legislative priority for the current session and is satisfied with its performance. He equally stressed the readiness of the House of Assembly to convene whenever the need arises.

He said the Assembly has passed several other consequential bills, including the Sokoto State Community Security Corps bill, which was crafted after a study tour to states with similar bodies.

Other notable laws passed include the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Law, Zakat and Endowment Commission’s Law, and the Tenancy Control and Safety of Persons Commission Law.

According to him, the Assembly’s amendment to the Local Government Law to increase the tenure of the Chairmen and Councillors generated controversy, with some opposition claiming it was targeted at the Sultan of Sokoto, the governor was eventually vindicated.

Bodinga clarified that the amendment to some of the laws was necessary to bring them into conformity with the Nigerian Constitution and while that of the local government was to specifically increase the tenure of council chairmen and councillors from two to three years.

He said the Assembly has also passed a bill mandating compulsory pre-marital medical screening for intending couples. Bodinga explained that the bill aims to reduce the risk of genetic disorders and infectious diseases among couples and has been well-received by the public.

He said the assembly passed another bill aimed at drastically reducing the high cost of marriage consummation in the state, noting that the high cost of marriage has become an obstacle to many young people getting married adding that the Assembly is determined to restore sanity in the system.

Bodinga emphasized the importance of capacity building for Assembly members, stating that the House constantly improves its members so that they can be able to fashion out legislative solutions to emerging challenges.

He also expressed joy that the Sokoto State House of Assembly has kept its covenant of delivering quality legislation designed to improve good governance to the citizens.

He gave the glory to the Almighty, “for giving us the wisdom and ability to successfully steer the affairs of the Sokoto State House of Assembly. So far so good. As Speaker, I understood very early and clearly that I am first amongst equals, so I knew I had to treat every member with utmost respect. And the other key functionaries of the House, the Deputy Speaker, and the other principal officers of the House equally understood this fact and this has been helpful in managing the House.

“The stability and the focus of the House is attributable to the fact that every member understands that as representatives of the people that we must take our constitutional responsibilities seriously….t

“This has largely made my job of leading the House very easy. I remain eternally grateful to them. The other factor is that the House leadership from the very outset adopted the principle of inclusiveness, transparency and accountability. And the fact that we see every member as a stakeholder in the development of our dear state, even if he is of the minority party.

“The majority would have their way, but the minority would have their say. Again, the members have exhibited a high degree of responsibility. We have informal conversations and share opinions and these have helped us in building consensus on issues that ordinarily would have precipitated crisis.”