by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
The Zamfara State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Hon. Bashar Gummi, has accused Governor Dauda Lawal of gross misappropriation of public funds, particularly over the N9 billion renovation of the Yariman Bakura Teaching Hospital in Gusau.
The allegation was raised during a parallel plenary session held Thursday in the state capital, Gusau.
Lawmakers questioned the legitimacy of the renovation project’s cost, arguing that the facility—initially built under former Governor Aliyu Shinkafi and completed during Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar’s tenure—was constructed for approximately N1 billion. They challenged the rationale behind spending nine times that amount on what they described as “mere painting.”
In addition to the hospital project, the Assembly demanded a detailed explanation from the state government on the alleged mismanagement of N200 billion reportedly received from the federal government. The funds, part of the oil subsidy removal palliative, were said to have been disbursed at a rate of N20 billion per state over ten months.
The legislators also raised concerns over the handling of N49 billion allocated under the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme. The initiative was meant to empower 250 youths in each of Zamfara’s 147 wards, particularly those displaced by bandit attacks. Lawmakers noted the funds were released after the former governor, Bello Matawalle, paid a N2.6 billion counterpart fund just before leaving office in 2023.
Citing growing concerns, the Assembly gave the executive branch a two-week ultimatum to provide comprehensive answers or face possible impeachment proceedings.
Escalating Insecurity and Government Inaction
Lawmakers also turned their attention to the worsening security crisis in Zamfara. Hon. Aliyu Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South, criticized the government’s handling of insecurity, stating that the governor appears to have lost control of the situation.
“Traveling the Gusau–Maru–Talata Mafara road is now suicidal, regardless of the time of day,” Kagara lamented. “Just recently, criminals collected N17 million in ransom from the people of Morai, only to keep the victims and vanish without consequence, while the state government remained silent.”
Although the Assembly had initially backed Governor Lawal’s initiative to establish Community Protection Guards, members accused him of neglecting the group, even as its personnel are routinely killed by armed criminals.
Lawmakers Demand Action, Suggest Vote of No Confidence
Hon. Nasiru Maru (Maru North) used the session to advocate for free education and scholarships for qualified Zamfara youths. Meanwhile, Hon. Ibrahim Tudu Tukur (Bakura constituency) went further, urging his colleagues to pass a vote of no confidence in the governor.
Tukur accused Governor Lawal of betraying the people by failing to safeguard lives and property, fostering disunity, and allegedly undermining Islamic values—beginning, he claimed, with moves against the state’s Ulama Council.
With tensions mounting, the Assembly warned of looming constitutional action if the executive continues to disregard the concerns of the people and their elected representatives.