Jigawa Assembly lifts suspension of 4 council chairmen

Jigawa State House of Assembly has lifted the suspension of four council chairmen and told them to resume their official duties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the affected chairmen are Bappa Shinge of Auyo Local Government Area (LGA), Bala Usman-Chamo of Dutse LGA, Ahmed Rufa’i of Gumel LGA and Shehu Sule-Udi of Ringim LGA.

The chairmen were suspended by the House on March 6, over alleged misconduct, negligence and injudicious use of public funds found by its Committee on Local Government during its oversight visit to their respective LGAs.

The House then set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the suspended council chairmen.

Mr Aminu Zakari, the Acting Chairman of the committee, while presenting its report, listed 11 findings/observations during its investigation.

Zakari said that the committee carried out a careful review of documents before it, including a consultant’s report on each of the four local governments.

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He said it also considered the documents submitted by the suspended council chairmen in defence of the accusations against them and their pleas.

Zakari said that the committee came up with 11 recommendations.

He said that one of the recommendations was to issue a stern warning to the affected chairmen to desist from any act unethical or unbecoming of holder of the office in both administrative and financial dealings.

“That this Honourable House should graciously consider the pleas of the suspended council chairmen.

“That the suspension placed against the following council chairmen: Bappa Shinge -Auyo LG, Bala Usman-Chamo – Dutse LG, Ahmed Rufa’i – Gumel and Shehu Sule-Udi -Ringim LG, be lifted and that they should resume their duties as the chairmen of their respective LGs,” Zakari said.

Consequent upon the resolution of the Assembly through voting, the Speaker, Mr Haruna Aliyu, recalled the four chairmen to resume office with immediate effect.

Reacting on behalf of the chairmen, Usman-Chamo of Dutse LG commended the lawmakers for the gesture.

He thanked their supporters and well-wishers for their solidarity.

Usman-Chamo, who was the state’s ALGON chairman before his suspension, added: “Not only four of us, but all 27 LGs will continue to do our best in serving our people”. (NAN)