09/11/2025
Before becoming Governor of Niger State in 2023, Umaru Mohammed Bago served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing the Chanchaga Federal Constituency from 2011 to 2023. During his three terms in the National Assembly, he gained a reputation as an influential and outspoken lawmaker, earning the nickname "Mr. Empowerment" among his constituents for his various contributions.
Key Contributions as a Federal Representative
His impact during his time in the House of Representatives primarily focused on grassroots development, education, and humanitarian aid:
Educational Support: Mohammed Bago actively improved access to education in his constituency. This included the purchase and distribution of 1,000 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME/JAMB) forms for aspiring students through his Bago Foundation.
Infrastructure: He facilitated and commissioned several road projects within the Chanchaga constituency, contributing to better local connectivity.
Humanitarian Aid: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he distributed eleven trailer loads of rice as palliatives to his constituents, providing essential relief to many families.
Skill Acquisition and Empowerment: He was known for various empowerment programs aimed at youth and women, which provided skill acquisition training, equipment, and start-up funds (e.g., sewing machines for women, electronic marketing training for youth).
Legislative Roles: He held several key committee positions, including Chairman of the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Administration and Education (2015-2019) and Chairman of the House Committee on Co-operation and Integration in Africa (2019-2023). He served on committees for Appropriations, Banking and Finance, Defence, Education, and Anti-Corruption, among others.
His extensive experience as a three-term federal legislator and his impactful community outreach programs are widely seen as having laid the foundation for his successful gubernatorial campaign and his current "New Niger Agenda.
Abdul Ibn N Adamu
