Democracy in action as Gurara LGA legislative arm suspends chairman in Niger

 

All the 10 councillors of the legislative Arm of the Gurara local government Assembly in Niger state on Monday suspended the Chairman of the Council Alhaji Yussuf Wali.

The three month suspension takes effect from Monday the 21st of June 2021 to 21st September 2021.

According to the resolution passed by the legislative Assembly all financial transactions by the suspended chairman during his suspension is stopped with immediate effect.

In addition the assembly has also directed the suspended chairman to return to the Council all items in his possession within 24hours.

In the document sent to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Police and DSS among others, they said during the period of his suspension the chairman will be investigated for alleged diversion and embezzlement of N6.9m approved and released for the supply of 500 metal frame wooden desks which only 150 were supplied in addition to investigation into the diversion of N900,000 released for the drilling of borehole in Gawu Babangida which was not done.

The legislature will also investigate the alleged inflation of the contract for the purchase of an ambulance from N2m to N11m and the double payment for the renovation of the council chairmans office totalling N18m.

The Councillors are displeased that despite the local government generating a whopping N300m “internally and externally “during the watch of the suspended chairman he did not carryout any people oriented project instead he reportedly sold 300 hectares of land at Dikko,Shako and Kabo ” without the consent and knowledge of the original farm owners and without paying them compensation.

Yussuf Wali was also accused of ” Refusal to honour the invitation of the legislative council.

The Vice Chairman of the Council Mr Joseph Barau is to serve as the Acting Chairman for period of the suspension.

All efforts to get Alhaji Wali for his comments were abortive as he did not respond to calls made to his cell phone.