Bauchi state Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has suspended the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Kirfi Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Baffa Bara, after he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on “issues of financial impropriety.”
The government said it viewed his invitation by the anti-graft agency as an “embarrassment” to the administration which cannot be tolerated.
This was contained in a statement signed by Governor Mohammed’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mukhtar Gidado, and made available to newsmen late Sunday night in Bauchi.
According to him, the Council Chairman was also suspended for his nonchalant attitude in running the LGA.
He said: “The suspension was due to his nonchalant attitude in running the affairs of the local government and other issues of financial impropriety which culminated to his invitation by the EFCC.
” This, the state views as a very serious embarrassment that cannot be tolerated. “
Gidado added that the government further observed that the suspended Chairman had not been engaging stakeholders from the local government as directed by the Governor.
“This act violates the principle of fair representation and participatory democracy as envisaged by the present administration in the state.
” The suspension which is with immediate effect is to allow a proper investigation into the allegations levelled against him so that the administration would take a final decision on the matter,” he said.
The media aide also said that the suspended Chairman had been directed to hand over the mantle of administration along with all government property in his possession to the Deputy Chairman of the Council.
Report says that this is the third council Chairman that has been suspended by the government in less than two months.
The report also has it that Governor Bala Mohammed on January 10th, 2020, suspended the Caretaker Committee Chairmen of Ningi and Darazo Local Government Areas, Nura Dan-Maishari’a and Gara’u Adamu, respectively.
The Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Alhaji Sabiu Baba, in letters he signed and addressed to the two Council Chairmen separately which were made available to Journalists said the government had observed with dismay their lackadaisical attitude towards running the affairs of their local government Areas.
“The way in which you have been frequently absconding from meetings of local government chairmen convened by the Ministry for Local Government Affairs is a dereliction of responsibility.
“Similarly, your local governments are witnessing indiscriminate felling of trees under your watch, which is inimical to the avowed commitment of the present administration in combatting desertification and environmental issues,” he stated.
