Jigawa Assembly reinstates 4 suspended council chairmen with stern warning

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
Jigawa State House of Assembly has reinstated the four local government council chairmen that were suspended from office on March 6, 2024 for alleged misconduct, negligence and luckily of judicious use of public funds

The lawmakers lifted their suspension during the house preliminary following the resolution of the Assembly that gave them the leeway to resume thier duties in their respective local government councils with immediate effect.

The affected local council bosses included, Hon. Bappa Shinge of Auyo LGA, Bala Usman-Chamo of Dutse LGA, Ahmed Rufa’i of Gumel LGA and Shehu Sule-Udi of Ringim LGA.

The lawmakers had earlier accused the chairmen of alleged misconduct, negligence and injudicious use of public funds as part of findings by its Committee on Local Government during its oversight visit to thier respective local government areas which led to their indefinite suspension.

The House had also set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the suspended council chairmen and further investigate the matter.

The committee presented it’s report to the house at plenary saying that it had carefully reviewed the documents before it, including a consultant’s report on each of the four local governments.
The Ag Chairman of the committee,
Mr Aminu Zakari, while presenting the report, listed 11 findings/observations by the committee during its investigation based on the documents submitted by the suspended council chairmen in defence of the accusations against them, and also their pleas before the committee, the committee came up with 11 recommendations.

One of the recommendations according to the chairman, is to issue a stern warning to the affected chairmen to desist from any unethical act unbecoming of any holder of the office of local government council in both administrative and financial dealings.

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

The committee report revealed that the suspension slammed 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 thier duties as the chairmen if thier respective LGs”.

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 the chairmen, Usman-Chamo of Dutse LG, who commended the lawmakers for the gesture, thanked their supporters and well wishers for theie solidarity.

Usman-Chamo, who is the state’s ALGON chairman added: Not only four of us, but all 27 LGA will continue to do our best in serving our people “.

He reaffirmed their loyalty to governor Malam Umar Namadi and commitment to work for the APC to be stronger in unity for victories at all times.