BREAKING: Jigawa Assembly Suspends Three Local Council Chairmen Over Alleged Illegal Trip

• Hon Tsubut described the chairmen’s actions as insubordination and a nonchalant attitude towards their primary responsibilities, emphasizing the need for an investigation and appropriate punishment according to the law.
• However, the House established a committee, chaired by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Lawan Muhammad Dansure, to investigate the matter and report back to the House within four weeks for further action.

Three local government council chairs have been suspended by the Jigawa State House of Assembly due to an alleged unlawful foreign trips.

According to state reports, they departed the nation without first obtaining authorization from the state’s executive or legislative branches, as mandated by the Jigawa State Local Government Law.

Hon. Rufai Ahmed of Gumel local government, Hon. Mubarak Ahmed of Birniwa local government, and Hon. Umar Baffa of Birniwa local government—who is rumoured to have visited Rwanda—are the suspended chairman.

The House took this action in response to a motion for the suspension of the concerned council chairs made by Hon. Aminu Zakari Tsubut, Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Affairs.

He explained that before their travel, the House had issued an order restricting local government council chairmen in the state from traveling anywhere due to the preparations for the 2024 state appropriation bill and its presentation to the assembly by the state governor, Malam Umar Namadi.

Hon Tsubut described the chairmen’s actions as insubordination and a nonchalant attitude towards their primary responsibilities, emphasizing the need for an investigation and appropriate punishment according to the law.

Members representing Malam Madori constituency, Hon Usman Abdullahi Tura, and the Member representing Guri, Hon Hamza Guri, seconded the motion presented by Hon Tsubut. The House then unanimously approved the suspension of the three local government chairmen and directed their vice-chairmen to take over.

However, the House established a committee, chaired by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Lawan Muhammad Dansure, to investigate the matter and report back to the House within four weeks for further action.