The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Complex was commissioned on Monday 24th May, 1999 by His Excellency Lt. Col Bala Mohammed Monde, the then military administrator of Nasarawa state.

Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) was inaugurated on June 3rd 1999 in a colourful ceremony that was witnessed by thousand of people, prominent among them were the former Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, top government functionaries and party leaders with all the elected twenty two (22) members of the legislature in attendance. The legislators undertook the elections of their principal officers, culminating in the choice of the following. Hon. Musa A. Agyo was elected Speaker of the House, while, Hon. Barrister Bala R. Ayaga was elected deputy speaker. Indeed, the speed and the orderliness with which the leadership structure of the House was put in place left no one in doubt that members of the Assembly were not only committed but resolved perform creditably as the first assembly of the state.

The House in its effort to positively touch the lives of the people of the state and determined to attain its constitutional responsibility to make laws for the good governance of the state, the honorable members embarked on a state wide tour soon after their inauguration which brought them face to face with realities on the ground. These include stock taking of the dilapidated state of institutions of learning, roads, healthcare delivery and the distribution of basic social amenities in various communities of the state.

As it was, the legislators became equipped and knowledgeable about the problems of the people to better address them during their deliberations. Secondly, the pervading climate of unity of purpose among them, coupled with the high sense of dedication to duty may created the existing enabling environment for credible legislative work. This explains why the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has earned for itself the enviable recognition of a pacesetter among the 36 legislative houses in the country.

A testimonial to this fact is the rate of daily visitors to the House by various interest groups to express appreciation to the honourable members. Among some of the visitors include European parliamentarians. One of such visit was in September 9th 2000 and another in 2001. In fact it is the opinion of some analysts that the giant strides which the executive arm of government in Nasarawa state has attained so far results from democratic input from the state’s legislative arm.

Three speakers have so far been produced in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, namely, Alhaji Musa A. Agyo, Alhaji Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo and Alhaji Musa Ahmed Mohammed.

During the periods of these speakers, a number of resolutions and bills were passed. During the first Assembly, thirty two (32) bills were passed into law, while one hundred and twenty six (126) resolutions were equally passed. During the second Assembly, under the able leadership of Alhaji Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, a reasonable number of bills were passed into law, while a number of resolutions were also passed. Some of the bills during the first Assembly include a bill for a law to establish, structure, composition, finance and functions of local government councils in Nasarawa state. A bill for a law to establish the Nasarawa state Independent Electoral Commission was also passed into law by the state House of Assembly.

Other bills passed into law by the state legislature also include a bill for a law to set up the Universal Basic Education (UBE) in Nasarawa state and a bill for a law to establish the State University, Keffi. The state Assembly also passed into law a bill for the establishment of the state specialist hospital Lafia, and also a bill for a law to establish the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lafia. A bill for a law to establish the Nasarawa State Sports Council was also passed into law by the State House of Assembly. Also passed into law, was a bill for a law for the establishment and composition of Greater Karu Area Planning and Development Authority (KAPDA), a bill for a law for the establishment of Nasarawa State Library Board, as well as a bill for a law to make provisions for the remunerations of political and public office holders in Nasarawa State.

Many other bills were also passed into law by the state House of Assembly during the first Assembly. During the second Assembly, the Child Right Act was passed into law by the state legislature, and many other bills.

When the third Assembly was constituted, members of the Assembly elected their principal officers, and Alhaji Musa Ahmed Mohammed was elected the Speaker, while Hon. Elisha Agwadu Jatau was elected deputy speaker. When the Speaker assumed the mantle of leadership about a year ago, he was able to lead the Assembly to the admiration of all. Reasonable numbers of bills and resolutions were passed into law by the legislators under the able leadership of the speaker, Alhaji Mohammed, one of which was a bill for a law to establish the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Service Commission. It also passed into law a bill for a law to establish the Nasarawa State Sports Commission. The State House of Assembly also passed into law a bill to establish the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board.

Apart from the forgoing, the State House of Assembly also passed into law a bill to establish the Nasarawa State Planning Commission. It also passed into law a bill for a law to amend the Nasarawa State Local Government law passed in 2000.

Members of the Assembly also deliberated extensively on the issue of issuance of indigene certificates to non indigenes under matters of public interest, and its was resolved that non-indigenes that stayed in Nasarawa state for a period of ten (10) years are eligible to be issued with indigene certificates. However the issue of issuance of indigene certificates to non indigenes was controversial at a point, until the State Assembly settled it once and for all. It was resolved by members of the house that any non indigene that is born in Nasarawa state and is more than ten years is qualified to be an indigene of Nasarawa state as is stipulated in the Nigerian constitution.

The state House of Assembly within the period of one year deliberated on the 2008 appropriations bill and passed it into law. The appropriations bill which was passed into law by the assembly was later sent to the governor for his assent. Also, the State House of Assembly passed a number of resolutions that would touch on the lives of people of the state. Some of the resolutions include calling on the state government to provide grazing reserve for cattle rearers in Akwanga local government area of Nasarawa state.

The assembly also passed a resolution calling the state government to embark on irrigation farming so that the state can produce enough food to feed the teeming populace of the state. The state assembly equally passed a resolution calling on the state government to sell fertilizer to farmers at subsidized rate. Many other resolutions were also passed by the State House of Assembly.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed recently remarked that the House is ever set to provide the much needed dividend of democracy to teeming populace of the state, by passing bills and resolutions that would improve the lives of the people. The House recently appointed Hon. Peter Mbucho as the majority leader of the House, following the nullification of the election of the former majority leader of the assembly by the state election petition tribunal sitting in Lafia. The majority leader, Honourable Peter Mbucho being a link between the executive and the legislature has been doing every thing possible to ensure that bills from both the legislature and the executive are given accelerated hearing for the benefit of the people of the state.