Niger State Assembly Speaker Sparks Controversy After Awarding N7 Million to Failed Councillorship Aspirant
The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji, has drawn widespread criticism after publicly presenting N7 million in cash to his personal assistant, Ibrahim Awwal, who lost his bid for a councilorship seat in Mariga Local Government Area.
The controversial gesture occurred during a public gathering where the Speaker dismissed Awwal’s disappointment over his failed political ambition. “You are crying because you lost your councilorship seat. When you went for the contest, I wasn’t aware,” Sarkin Daji stated while handing over the cash. “The whole salary for three years as a councillor is N6.4 million. Here is N7 million I give you free of charge.”
In addition to the N7 million given to his aide, the Speaker distributed N500,000 each to twelve other aspirants who accepted the outcome of the consensus arrangement without protest. “I gift all twelve persons N500,000 each for their understanding and for not causing any issues,” Sarkin Daji explained.
The development has ignited fierce debate across social media platforms, with many citizens questioning the Speaker’s priorities. Critics argue that such funds could have been better utilized for pressing developmental projects in Mariga Local Government, where infrastructure deficits remain acute.
Yahaya Mohd Usman, one of the vocal critics, described the action as wasteful and insensitive. “What is nauseating about the video is how a supposedly third person in the state hierarchy displays such an amount of cash when so many projects in his LGA need attention,” he remarked.
Others, like Abdulmalik Yakubu, challenged the Speaker’s record of service, asking, “Call him again and ask if there is any single administrative achievement under his government for his constituents in two years.”
The backlash has intensified scrutiny of governance and public spending in Niger State, with many citizens expressing frustration over what they perceive as misplaced priorities by political officeholders. As the debate continues, the incident raises broader questions about accountability and the ethical use of resources in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The Niger State Government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the controversy. However, political analysts suggest the incident may have lasting implications for the Speaker’s public standing and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
