Jigawa Assembly suspends LG chairs over foreign trips

Jigawa State House of Assembly Speaker, Haruna Aliyu

The Jigawa State House of Assembly has suspended three local government council chairmen for allegedly travelling outside the country without seeking permission from the state executive or legislature.

The suspended chairmen are Mubarak Ahmed of Yankwashi LGA, Rufai Sunusi, Gumel LGA and Umar Baffa of Birniwa LGA, who was said to have travelled to Rwanda.

The House took the decision after the Chairman, Committee on Local Government Affairs, Hon Aminu Zakari Tsubut, presented a motion for the suspension of the affected council chairmen.

He explained that prior to their trip, the House had given an order for the local council chairmen in the state not to travel anywhere due to the preparation of the 2024 state appropriation bill and its presentation to the Assembly by Governor Mallam Umar Namadi.

Tsubut said, “This is an act of insubordination and nonchalant attitude to the primary responsibility which must be investigated immediately.”

The members representing Malam Madori and Guri constituencies, Usman Abdullahi Tura and Hamza Guri, respectively, seconded the motion moved by Tsubut.

The House then unanimously approved the suspension of the three local government chairmen and directed the vice chairmen of the affected councils to take over.

Meanwhile, the House had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Majority Leader of the House, Lawan Muhammad Dansure to investigate the matter and report back to the House within four weeks for further action.