Musa Sarkin Adar: Profile of a veteran lawmaker and NEITI executive Secretary

Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, popularly known as Hon. Musa S/Adar, is an influential Nigerian legislator who represents the Goronyo/Gada Federal Constituency of Sokoto State.

In recognition of his long-standing commitment to public service, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently redeployed him from the chairmanship of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to his new position as Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

Profile summary

Name: Musa Sarkin Adar

Born: May 15, 1965

State of origin: Kano

Education: Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto

Marital status: Married

Religion: Muslim

Career: Public Servant

Background

Musa Sarkin, an indigene of Kano State was born on May 15, 1965.

His upbringing and early academic journey laid the foundation for the leadership qualities he would later exhibit in public office.

He attended the Government Teachers College, Binji, where he earned a Grade II Teachers Certificate in 1982.

He later enrolled at the prestigious Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1988.

His academic background in political studies shaped his interest in governance and civic engagement.

Political prowess

Long before emerging as a federal lawmaker, Musa Sarkin Adar had been active in Nigeria’s political evolution.

His political career began in the early 1990s when he became a dedicated member of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), under the mentorship of the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

During that period, he contested for the chairmanship of Gada Local Government.

Although he was unsuccessful, largely due to the SDP’s limited popularity in Sokoto State this early experience strengthened his resolve to serve.

Following his brief stint in politics, he returned to the civil service, where he steadily climbed the administrative ladder.

He held several critical positions, including Director of Personnel and later Director of Careers and Counselling. His reputation for discipline, administrative skill and professionalism earned him respect across the service.

Seeking broader national exposure, he transitioned to the federal civil service in 2001, where he served as Personnel Manager at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Apapa, Lagos.

He held this post until 2006, contributing significantly to staff management and administrative reforms at the organization.

Return to Politics and rise through the APC

Hon. Sarkin Adar returned to active politics in the mid-2000s and successfully ran for the House of Representatives in 2007.

Over the years, he has established himself as a committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has served in several high-level party committees.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, he played a notable role in the APC National Convention as a member of the Screening Committee chaired by Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari.

The committee ultimately produced Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the party’s national chairman.

He also served on the APC Presidential Planning and Strategy Committee, one of the key bodies that deliberated and recommended critical decisions, such as the nomination of the vice-presidential candidate and the choice of director-general for the Tinubu campaign.

Members of this committee included influential figures like Nuhu Ribadu, Hon. Abiodun Faleke, Senator Magnus Abe, Senator Elisha Abbo, Senator Bent, Senator Abu Ibrahim, and Kashim-Imam.

Legislative career

In the National Assembly, Hon. Sarkin Adar has built a reputation as an experienced, articulate and consistent legislator.

He has represented his constituency for four consecutive terms after winning elections in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. This makes him one of the longest-serving members of the House of Representatives.

In 2019, he contested for the office of Deputy Speaker of the 9th Assembly but lost due to the zoning arrangement that favoured the North-Central region.

He later vied for the position of Majority Leader but was edged out by Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa.

Despite these setbacks, he continues to wield influence in the House and currently serves as Chairman of the Northern Caucus, a strategic parliamentary group representing lawmakers from the northern part of the country.

Achievements

His influence extends beyond national politics. He represented Nigeria at:

The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in New York (2014).

A U.S. government-sponsored leadership course in Cleveland, Ohio (2016), which deepened his understanding of parliamentary practices and global governance.

Leadership roles

Over his many years in parliament, Hon. Sarkin Adar has chaired several powerful committees, demonstrating a mastery of oversight, policy development and legislative scrutiny. His chairmanships include:

• Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) – 9th Assembly
• Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters (INEC) – 6th Assembly
• Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport – 7th Assembly

He has also served as a member of the Marine Transport Committee and has been actively involved in sectoral reforms and institutional strengthening.

As Chairman of the APC Parliamentary Support Group before the 2019 elections, he led members to the Presidential Villa to interface with President Muhammadu Buhari on national concerns and internal party issues.

During the visit, he defended the importance of constituency projects as tools for national cohesion and grassroots development.

Legislative contributions

Hon. Sarkin Adar has championed a wide range of legislative initiatives, focusing on accountability, development and social welfare. Some of his notable contributions include:

• Amendment of the Federal Character Commission Act
• Amendment of the Public Officers Protection Act (2015)
• National Agency for Training and Regulation of Vocational Trades (Establishment) Bill (2015)
• National Universities Commission Act (Amendment) Bill (2015)
• Agricultural Produce Hoarding (Prohibition) Bill (2015)
• River Basin Development Authorities Act (Amendment) Bill (2015)

Net worth

Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar’s net worth could not be accessed as at the time of this post, Gazette Post will keep it updated in due time.