The Zamfara State House of Assembly on Wednesday suspended two local government chairmen over alleged financial misappropriation.

The affected officials are Mannir Haidara of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and Umar A. Faru of Bukkuyum Local Government Area.

The suspension followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, presented during plenary.

Spokesperson for the House, Bello Madaro Kurya, said the action was part of efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in local government administration.

According to him, the committee recommended the suspension after the chairmen allegedly failed to honour invitations to explain the expenditure of funds allocated to their councils.

He said, “The Committee recommended the suspension of two Executive Chairmen, Hon. Mannir Mu’azu Haidara of Kaura Namoda Local Government Council and Hon. Umar A. Faru of Bukkuyum Local Government Council, for their deliberate refusal to honour invitations extended to them by the committee.

“The invitations were issued to enable them to provide explanations regarding the expenditure of funds allocated to their respective councils.

“Following deliberations presided over by the Speaker Hon Bilyaminu Moriki, the House unanimously adopted the committee’s recommendations and approved the immediate suspension of the two Chairmen pending the conclusion of the investigation.”

He said the affected chairmen had been directed to hand over to their respective vice chairmen with immediate effect.

The Assembly also cited alleged disregard for legislative authority and lack of transparency as reasons for the action.

Efforts to reach the suspended officials for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. (The PUNCH)