Zamfara assembly suspends two LG chairmen over fraud

The Zamfara State House of Assembly has suspended two local government chairmen over alleged financial misappropriation, directing them to immediately hand over to their respective vice chairmen pending the outcome of investigations.

The affected officials are Mannir Mu’azu Haidara of Kaura Namoda Local Government Council and Umar A. Faru of Bukkuyum Local Government Council.

The suspensions followed the unanimous adoption of a report by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during plenary on Wednesday, presided over by Speaker Bilyaminu Moriki.

House spokesperson Bello Madaro Kurya said the committee recommended the action after both chairmen allegedly failed to honour repeated invitations to appear before the panel and account for funds allocated to their councils.

“The invitations were issued to enable them to provide explanations regarding the expenditure of funds allocated to their respective councils,” Kurya said, adding that the House viewed their refusal as a deliberate disregard for legislative authority.

He said the Assembly’s decision was part of broader efforts to entrench transparency and accountability in local government administration across the state.

The suspended chairmen have been directed to relinquish their functions with immediate effect, while investigations into the alleged infractions are concluded.

Efforts to obtain reactions from the affected officials were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.