The Zamfara State House of Assembly has suspended the chairmen of Bukkuyum and Kaura Namoda Local Government Areas following allegations of financial misappropriation and a perceived “disrespect” to legislative authority. The decision, reached during a plenary session on Wednesday, marks a significant escalation in the state’s ongoing audit of local government expenditures for the 2025 fiscal year.
The affected officials are Umar A. Faru (Bukkuyum LGA) and Mannir Mu’azu Haidara (Kaura Namoda LGA). Their suspension follows a formal report presented by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Reasons for the Suspension
The move was triggered by the chairmen’s repeated refusal to appear before the legislative committee to defend their councils’ spending records. According to the House spokesperson, Bello Kurya:
- Failure to Honor Invitations: The chairmen reportedly ignored multiple summons intended to clarify the allocation and utilization of funds during the previous fiscal year.
- Legislative Contempt: The Assembly characterized their refusal to appear as a “serious breach” and a display of “disrespect to the legislative institution.”
- Lack of Transparency: The committee’s findings suggested a systemic failure in accountability and the prudent management of public resources within the two councils.
The Deputy Speaker, Adamu Aliyu Gummi, who presented the report, emphasized that the House would not tolerate executive negligence at the local level. The suspension was unanimously adopted in a session presided over by Speaker Bilyaminu Moriki.
Immediate Transition
The Assembly has directed both Faru and Haidara to hand over all official responsibilities to their respective vice-chairmen immediately. The suspension is set to remain in place pending the final outcome of a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of all 14 local government councils in Zamfara State.
Broader Context in Zamfara
The suspension of the Bukkuyum chairman comes at a particularly sensitive time for the local government. Just days ago, Bukkuyum was the site of a major security crisis where roughly 150 residents were abducted from Kurfa Danya and Kurfan Magaji villages. While local leaders have been pleading for increased security funding and state support to manage the “forgotten conflict,” the Assembly’s move indicates a parallel focus on ensuring that existing security and administrative allocations are being tracked accurately.
The Zamfara State House of Assembly has transmitted its resolutions to the executive arm for implementation, reiterating that the probe is a necessary step toward “good governance” and the protection of public funds.
Political analysts in Gusau suggest that this move may be the first of several, as the House Committee continues its review of the 2025 financial records across the remaining 12 local government areas.
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