The Kano State House of Assembly has escalated its oversight of local government administration by suspending the chairmen of Bagwai, Bebeji and Rogo Local Government Areas over alleged financial misconduct, abuse of office and violations of procurement regulations.
The three-month suspension, approved during Tuesday’s plenary, immediately strips the affected chairmen of their powers, with their deputies directed to assume leadership of the councils in acting capacities pending the outcome of investigations.
The decision followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, which said it uncovered evidence suggesting widespread administrative and financial infractions after probing separate petitions against the council bosses.
Presenting the report, Committee Chairman Aliyu Muhammad said the panel examined official documents from the councils and engaged their legislative arms before arriving at its findings.
According to the report, the Bagwai Local Government chairman allegedly misappropriated funds allocated for development projects.
The committee alleged that the Bebeji chairman abused his office through repeated breaches of due process in contract awards, diversion of public funds, irregular sale of council land and unlawful deductions from contractors’ payments. It further claimed that contractors were allegedly compelled to remit contract funds into accounts nominated by the chairman, contrary to extant financial regulations.
In Rogo, the committee accused the council chairman of violating administrative procedures, undermining government policies and allegedly diverting funds meant for feeder road construction and rural electrification projects in Unguwar Dawa and Hausawa Fulani communities.
Citing Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the committee recommended the immediate suspension of the three officials to allow for an unhindered investigation.
The recommendation received unanimous backing from lawmakers after Chief Whip Mudassir Ibrahim argued that public office holders facing allegations of financial misconduct must be subjected to transparent investigations to protect public resources.
Speaker Ismail Falgore subsequently announced the suspension and directed the committee to conclude its investigation within 10 weeks.
He also instructed the Clerk of the Assembly to formally communicate the resolution to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The affected chairmen are Bello Abdullahi Gadanya, Alhassan Salisu and Abubakar Mustapha.