Dickson Dominic Tarkighir (born 12 April 1969) is a Nigerian politician. He is a member of the 10th Nigeria National Assembly of the Nigerian House of Representatives representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency. He was also a member of the 8th National Assembly and a member of the ECOWAS parliament.
Early life and education Dickson Tarkighir was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Tarkighir Ubur Adaga. He attended St. Thomas Primary School Ibume, Makurdi Local Government Area from 1976 to 1981 where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC).
He proceeded to Nongov Community Secondary School, Tse-Kyo, Guma Local Government Area, where he graduated in 1986 with a Senior Secondary School Certificate.
After a break in his educational pursuit, he was admitted to Edo State University, now Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, where he studied between 1998 and 2003 and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
He later gained admission to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA), in 2008.
Work and employment Dickson Tarkighir is a marketing consultant. From 1988 to 1991, he served as an apprentice at Mojo Electronics, Umuahia. Between 1992 and 1995, he worked with Okada Air, Kaduna.
Later, he went into private business and established Dasnett Mobile Services during the advent of GSM services in Nigeria. He was the MD/CEO, Triggar and Gibbons Ltd, an advertising agency and logistics support service company and District 4 Lounge, a relaxation outfit in Makurdi, Benue state.
Political career Dickson Tarkighir was a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He worked for the victory of the party at all levels which earned him the appointment of Senior Special Assistant on Industries to the Governor of Benue State in 2009. He was re-appointed into the same position in 2011; a position he held until 2014 when he resigned to run for a seat in the National Assembly.
He sought for the ticket of the People's Democratic Party to contest at the polls but lost to John Tondo, in a primary election described as unfair. He left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he secured the ticket to contest at the polls in the 2015 general elections and won the seat to represent the people of Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abuja.
On Tuesday, 24 July 2018, Tarkighir was among 37 members of the House of Representatives who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to other political parties. He defected to the People's Democratic Party (PDP), a party he had previously defected from.
However, On Tuesday, 22 January 2019, Tarkighir announced his return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying "efforts by the Federal Government to restore peace and order to his constituency had pacified him and his people." Dickson Tarkighir had earlier left the APC after being "aggrieved with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration over how the farmers/herdsmen crisis was being handled."
Litigation
Dickson Tarkighir was the nominee of the All Progressives Congress, to replace the candidature of Bulaun Peter who won the initial primary election and was issued a certificate of return by the party and recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but had passed on.
One Franc Fagah Utoo went to court to challenge his candidature, citing irregularities in his nomination process. "Utoo claimed that he won the party's primary election but that Tarkighir's name was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission."
The case went through the High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Courts, with Tarkighir's nomination being upheld by the highest court in Nigeria.
Legislative activities Dickson Tarkighir was an outspoken voice in the 8th National Assembly of the House of Representatives. He is an advocate of the independence of the legislature and a defender of the institution. He has always stood by the decisions of the House irrespective of his personal and partisan political views. During the electioneering of the Speaker of the 8th Assembly, Tarkighir supported the candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Gbajabiamila, who lost to Yakubu Dogara. Amidst the furore that followed the loss of Gbajabiamila, he stood with the outcome of the election.
After the passage of the 2017 budget, there was public outcry over the increase of the National Assembly budget from N115bn in 2016 to 125bn, at a time the nation was struggling to recover from economic recession. In the proposed budget, the sum of N125bn was appropriated for both chambers of the 8th Assembly, the figure which represents about 2% of the total budget of the federation. Tarkighir, however, explained why the budget was jacked up by N10bn.
According to him, the present economic realities and the subsequent increase in the foreign exchange had drastically affected the operations of the National Assembly. "The cost of dollar virtually affects all facets of life. Almost everything we do here, we have to exchange naira for dollars. We import papers from abroad, including the ones we used to produce the budget you are holding. Now, we can’t even buy operational vehicles because there is no money."
He said there were oversight functions that lawmakers also attend outside the country. "We just arrived the country, last week, from an Offshore Technology Conference. You wouldn't believe that, with the current exchange rate, this budget is less than N100bn, you are just seeing the figures on the surface."
"The budget was actually N150bn in the 7th Assembly, but it took patriotic efforts of the leadership and members of the 8th Assembly to reduce it to what it is now. When we saw the economic situation then, we resolved amongst ourselves to make sacrifices for the country, so we reduced the budget from N150bn. But as you can see, it is no longer possible, due to increase in dollars. We can no longer sustain that figure. Even when the budget was N150bn, the exchange rate was 199 naira to a dollar, today, the official exchange rate is 305, but you can’t get it. You need to buy at the black market at high rate", he added.
During another interview, Tarkighir also stated, "I have aimed my legislation at issues affecting my country men and my constituents. I have raised a motion asking that the Federal Government replaces the 25,000 ghost workers it discovered, with actual job seekers since the Government has shown capability over time to remunerate such work force. This number, shared by and drawn from the 36 states of the Federation and Abuja, would help ease the high level of unemployment a bit."
Committee memberships Tarkighir was a member of about 10 committees, Appropriation Defense Petroleum Downstream Population Navy Health Services Niger Delta Affairs Inter Parliamentary Integration in Africa ECOWAS Parliament
Bills sponsored Tarkighir sponsored several bills. They include: A Bill for an Act to create a Department of Cattle Ranches under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture or any such Ministry Overseeing the Production and Rearing of Cattle; and for Other Matters Related Thereto, 2015 (HB 323). A bill for an act to amend the National Primary Health Care Development Agency Act (1992) and to repeal the National Programme on Immunization Act (1997. A bill for an act to amend the Information Technology Development Agency Act 2007 to vest in the agency, more functions to enhance internet security and more powers to set, coordinate and regulate minimum e-governance standards in all federal government ministries, departments and agencies and for other matters thereto, 2015. A bill for an act to amend the National Health Bill 2014 to include free and compulsory periodic medical test for prevalent and chronic ailments or conditions on all persons living in Nigeria and for other matters thereto. Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (establishment, etc.) (amendment) bill, 2016. A bill for an act to repeal the National Programme on Immunization Act Cap. N71 laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, to remove the replication of functions between National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and National Programme on Immunization and for related matters. A bill for an act to amend the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015 and vest the implementation and exercise of this act with the National Agency for Food and Drug and Administration and Control and for other matters related thereto, 2016 (HB.882). A Bill for an act to Amend the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act, Cap. N1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Create a Directorate of National Tobacco Control and for Other Related Matters (HB.883). A bill for an act to provide special benefits to electricity consumers who make financial contribution to electricity companies towards the procurement, installation and maintenance of electricity distribution transformers or other related equipment and for related matters, 2017.
Motions Tarkighir moved several motions on the floor of the House; these include: Motion on the tragedy of flood disaster in Makurdi and several parts of the country. Motion to replace 23,000 ghost workers with actual workers from the pool of unemployed and qualified Nigerian job seekers. A motion calling on FERMA to urgently mobilize resources towards the rehabilitation of the Makurdi – Gboko federal highway. A motion calling on NEMA and other relevant agencies to put in place an enabling environment for a swift and decisive response to the anticipated flooding of parts of Benue State and especially for adequate care and attention to IDPs currently housed within the International Market in Makurdi and an overall review of emergency preparedness and disaster management framework to enhance speed and efficiency in the primary mandate of the agencies concerned. Motion towards decentralising the voter registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Motion on herdsmen killings in Guma and Logo Local Government areas of Benue State and the alarming humanitarian situation that has arisen. Need for the Federal Government to Declare a State of Emergency on Security over Spate of Deadly Attacks in the Country by Suspected Herdsmen.
Constituency projects Dickson Tarkighir has to his credit several constituency projects in Makurdi-Guma Federal Constituency. Some of the projects include: Solar powered street light at Abinsi Town, Guma Local Govt Area, Benue State. Provision of 5 NOS 300KVA transformers in Makurdi LGA, Benue State. Construction of Solar Borehole at Ter Guma Street, North Bank, Makurdi LGA- Benue State. Construction of Skills Acquisition Centre (Type A) at High Level, Makurdi LGA- Benue State. Construction of Abinsi Township roads, Guma LGA, Benue State. Youth Empowerment Scheme: Sewing machines, cassava processing machines, Grinding machines, computer laptops, farm spraying machines, welding machines, water pumping machines in Makurdi LGA, Benue State. Training of market participants the use of trading system in Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State. Construction of Town Hall at Abinsi, Guma LGA, Benue State. Empowerment for women and youths: Tricycles, motorbikes, grinding machines, sewing machines at Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Benue State. Health medical outreach: HIV Awareness campaign/free medical outreach at Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Benue State. Completion of Akaakuma Dam in Guma LGA-Benue State. Construction of LGEA Primary School Ngban, Nyiev, Guma LGA- Benue State. Purchase of motorcycles for rural community intervention in Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State. Solar boreholes at Abinsi, Guma LGA, Benue State.