By Maryam Shuaibu
The Kano State House of Assembly has suspended three local government chairmen following allegations of financial misappropriation, abuse of office and other administrative irregularities in their respective councils.
The affected chairmen are Abubakar Mustapha of Rogo Local Government Area, Bello Dadanya of Bagwai Local Government Area and Alhassan Salisu of Bebeji Local Government Area.
The Assembly announced the decision after adopting the report of its Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, which investigated petitions submitted by residents of the three councils.
The development was contained in a statement issued by Kamaluddeen Shawai, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Assembly.
Presenting the committee’s report, the Majority Leader of the House, Lawan Hussaini, said the petitions raised concerns about alleged financial mismanagement, abuse of office, breach of public trust and other administrative practices involving the council chairmen.
He said the committee did not reach its recommendation solely on the basis of the petitions, but conducted interactive sessions with officials of the affected local governments, reviewed council records and examined relevant documents before submitting its findings to the House.
Following the adoption of the report, the Assembly directed that its resolution be communicated to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for implementation.
The House also ordered the vice chairmen of Rogo, Bagwai and Bebeji local government areas to take over the administration of the councils pending the conclusion of the committee’s investigation.
What the Constitution says
The Assembly said its investigation was conducted under Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution, which give state Houses of Assembly powers to investigate the administration of public funds and the conduct of government institutions within their legislative oversight responsibilities.
Section 128 empowers a House of Assembly to investigate the conduct of affairs of authorities responsible for administering laws or disbursing public funds appropriated by the legislature. It also provides that such investigations may be used to expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the administration of public resources (Nigeria Law Reports).
Section 129 gives an Assembly or its committee powers to obtain evidence, summon witnesses and require the production of relevant documents during such investigations.
However, the allegations against the three chairmen remain subject to the outcome of the Assembly’s investigation. The suspension itself is not a judicial finding of guilt.
The latest action also comes against the background of the Kano Assembly’s increasing scrutiny of local government administration. In August 2025, the House suspended the chairman of Rano Local Government, Muhammad Naziru Ya’u, for three months over allegations including financial recklessness, unauthorised sale of shops and diversion of fertiliser. That action followed a petition signed by nine of the council’s 10 councillors.
The recurring interventions highlight the importance of effective oversight at the local government level, where councils are responsible for delivering basic services and managing public resources at the grassroots.
For the three suspended chairmen, the next stage will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation and any further decisions by the Assembly or other competent authorities.