Alhaji Monguno

Mohammed Tahir Monguno (born 12 February 1966) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is the chief whip of the 10th Senate. He has served as the senator representing Borno North since 2023.

He was a member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria representing Marte/Monguno/Nganzai Federal Constituency of Borno State from 2007 to 2023, and served as the chief Whip of the 9th House of Representatives.

Mohammed Tahir Monguno was born on 12 February 1966. He had his primary education in Monguno Central Primary School and later attended Government Secondary School (GSS) Ngala, Borno State where he obtained his Senior School Certificate.

He studied law at the University of Maiduguri where he graduated in 1989. He attended Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990.

In 1992, Monguno contested and was elected as a member of the House at the age of 26. He was re-elected member of the House of Representatives representing Marte/Nganzai/Monguno federal constituency of Borno State in 2007.

He served in the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th assemblies. Previously, he served as the chief whip of the 9th House of Representatives and presently as Chief Whip of the 10th Senate.

Before 2007, he served as Honorable Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Borno State from 2003 to 2005. He also held positions as Honorable Commissioner for Education (2005–2006) and Honorable Commissioner for Water Resources (2006–2007) in Borno State.

Prior to his appointment as a commissioner in 2003, he practiced private law as Principal Solicitor at Monguno Kura Chambers between 1992 and 2003. He was also a senior lecturer of law at Borno State College of Legal Studies (now Mohammed Goni College of Legal and Islamic Studies) up until 1999.

In 2000, he served as a committee member on the Application of Sharia law in Borno State.

Monguno, a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), emerged as a winner in the 2019 general elections to return to the lower chamber for the fourth consecutive term, representing Marte, Monguno, and Nganzai Federal Constituency of Borno State.

He was previously elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, representing the Marte, Monguno, and Nganzai federal constituency before the 1993 military coup, which ended the tenure of all elected representatives.

In the 2015 House leadership tussle of the 8th assembly, Monguno initially aspired for the leadership of the House but stepped down to run for the post of deputy speaker under a joint ticket with Femi Gbajabiamila. He was defeated by Hon. Sulaiman Lasun.

In the 9th assembly, which began in 2019, Monguno was initially a top contender for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives within the APC caucus. He later withdrew to endorse and support Femi Gbajabiamila, who was the party’s choice.

Monguno chaired the ad-hoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill in the 9th assembly. His efforts led to the bill’s passage into law after 20 years of debate.

He moved motions, including one with 14 other representatives, asking the President to sack the Service Chiefs due to security failures and Boko Haram insurgencies in the Northeast. He also moved a motion to declare an emergency on security.

In May 2020, he sponsored a bill to alter the 1999 Constitution to allow for independent candidacies in elective offices. He argued this would provide equal opportunity for all Nigerians, though it was opposed by Hon. James Faleke, who feared litigation and complications for INEC.