By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The house committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs of the Jigawa State House of Assembly has uncovered financial misappropriation of over N942,033,814 by four local councils’ chairmen
This was contained in a committee’s report presented on the floor of the House during plenary session presided over by the speaker of the house, Rt. Honourable Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin.
Presenting the report to the house the committee chairman, honourable Aminu Zakari said the discovery was made during the committee’s oversight function carried out in the 27 local government areas of the state.
The House unanimously approved the suspension of the four local government council chairmen and directed the vice chairmen of the affected local councils to take over the mantle of leadership till further notice.
The committee chairman, honourable Aminu Zakari listed the affected local government council chairmen to include Alhaji Muhammad Sani, Dutse Honourable Bala Usman Chamo, Gumel, Honourable Ahmed Rufa’i and Ringim Alhaji Shehu Sule Udi for alleged financial misconduct and administration in their respective local government councils.
According to the report the chairman of Auyo local government council, Alhaji Sani was accused of making 54 payments of over N158.3 million without vouchers, 29 illegal payments to the tune of N54.3 million, 54 payment of over N66.8 million without vouchers among other allegations.
While honourable Chamo of Dutse local government council was suspended over alleged illegal transaction to the tune of N240,001,082 which contained 70 irregular payments amounting to over N126.4 million, over N30.6 million payment 19 times without proper procedure and approval.
Explaining further, he said, 42 payment vouchers amounting to N82.8 million had no supporting documents such as house approval, LPO, Bill of quantity etc.
The Gumel local government chairman, honourable Rufa’i was accused of missppropruating over N543.6 million, part of which is over N400 million ecological fund diverted to overhead cost and 22 different payments to the tune of over N143.6 million to individuals.
But the case of the suspended Ringim local government chairman, Honourable Udi is more of administrative lapses with some financial malpractices such as illegal auctions of local government properties, shortchanging local government finances on internally revenue generations.
Honourable Zakari submitted the recommendation for the committee to the house as follows “That these honourable house should consider the indefinite suspension of local council chairmen of Auyo, Dutse, Gumel and Ringim for suspicious allegation of misconduct, negligence of duties and inducious spending of public funds without justification in line with provision of section 9 of local government law principal cap 18 law of JIgawa state 2012 as well as financial memorandum”. The vice chairmen of the affected local government should take over the local government council till after investigation. The house should continue with further investigation on the matter”.