The storm against Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State is yet to settle as recent happenings in the state point to an impending confrontation between the governor and state House of Assembly.

Rumour of the Governor Bello’s impeachment continued to gather momentum, climaxing with the recent slashing of workers’ salaries, including that of members of the Niger State House of Assembly (NSHA), as members insisted that he had no reason to deny workers their full salaries.

The governor is said to have shortly after being sworn-in started distancing himself from the coalition of forces that ensured his election while at the same time jettisoning his campaign promises, a development some of his strong supporters said would not augur well for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the entire state.

Lately, there had been significant voices expressing dissatisfactions with Governor Sani Bello and his leadership style, less than two years in office hence his fast fading support base.

Governor Bello catalogue of sins, our correspondent learnt, includes deviating from the electioneering campaign promises, disrespect for traditional institutions, tampering with workers’ salaries, including that of House of Assembly members.

Meanwhile, Niger State House of Assembly has directed Governor Sani Bello to refund all deductions from the salaries of civil servants with immediate effect.

The House reminded him of the need to respect the principles of checks and balances peculiar with democratic governance.

The directive followed a motion moved by, Hon. Bello Ahmad, representing (Agwarra) on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and seconded by Hon. Salihu Edati representing (Edati), a member of the ruling APC.

Ahmad said that the legislative arm was not consulted as a primary stakeholder before such deductions, adding that the governor’s action was unconstitutional.

“As far as this issue of slashing workers’ salaries is concerned, none of us as primary stakeholders in matters that affect citizens was consulted,” he said.

He also said, “Looking at the constitution and the Labour Act, you will see that there is no provision that empowers the state government? to slash salaries, no matter the state of the economy. It is a different thing if there was an agreement and mutual understanding between all stakeholders.”

Other members spoke in similar vein were unanimous that the state government should revert to status quo, release balance of all monies deducted from workers’ salaries because people were going through untold hardship because of the deductions.

Hon. Ahmed Marafa, Speaker of the state Assembly, had earlier ?expressed worries over the state government’s lack of political will to recover funds looted by the past administrations and the non-implementation of earlier resolutions of the House.

Besides, concerns over non-implementation of House resolutions by the executive arm of government that prompted the House to give the Governor one week to assent to the two pending bills, the Speaker said the legislature would not hesitate to invoke relevant sections of the Constitution. (Independent)

•Photo shows Governor Sani Bello.

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