Nine suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have accused the state government of withholding their salaries and allowances for almost two years following their suspension.
The lawmakers made the allegation during an interview with DW Hausa on Tuesday, where they claimed they were punished for speaking out about rising insecurity in their constituencies.
The legislators were suspended on February 27, 2024, and said their areas have been left without representation since then.
One of the affected lawmakers, Bashir Abubakar, who represents Bukkuyum North Constituency, said the problem started after they raised security concerns during plenary.
“We stood up and spoke about insecurity affecting our people, and it did not go down well with the government,” Abubakar said. “Since then, the nine of us were suspended.”
He further alleged that security agencies were directed to arrest them after the suspension.
“They obtained a court order that wherever we were seen, we should be arrested,” he said. “If the same effort was directed at bandits, they would have been arrested by now.”
Reacting to the claims, the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Moriki, denied that the lawmakers were suspended for talking about insecurity.
Moriki said the suspension was due to a breach of legislative rules, insisting that due process was followed.
“No lawmaker has the right to lock the chamber against other members,” the Speaker said.
According to him, the affected lawmakers locked the Assembly chamber and held an unauthorised sitting while principal officers were within the Assembly complex.
On the issue of unpaid salaries, another suspended lawmaker, Aliyu Kagara, who represents Talata Mafara South Constituency, alleged that their salaries and allowances had been withheld for 22 months.
“Our salaries and allowances have not been paid since our suspension,” Kagara said. “The Zamfara State House of Assembly has 24 members, yet budgets were passed without the required two-thirds majority.”
The Speaker rejected the allegation, saying the Assembly acted within the law and that suspended lawmakers were not entitled to salaries or benefits.
“Once you are suspended, you will not enjoy any kind of benefit,” Moriki said.
The suspended lawmakers also said they had taken the matter to court but accused the Assembly and state government of frustrating the legal process.
Moriki dismissed the claim, saying the Assembly did not file the case.
“They sued; we did not,” he said. “We presented our evidence to the court, and the matter is under judicial review.”
He added that talks had been held on resolving the issue, revealing that Governor Dauda Lawal had agreed to reinstate the lawmakers if they apologised to the Assembly.
“They should write an apology letter, and they will be reinstated,” Moriki said.
However, the suspended lawmakers reportedly rejected the condition, insisting they committed no offence.
The Zamfara State House of Assembly has 24 members. With nine lawmakers suspended, only 15 are currently active, raising concerns about representation for affected constituencies as the 2027 general elections draw closer.
Legal experts have repeatedly warned that prolonged suspension of elected lawmakers could violate constitutional provisions that guarantee representation for voters, even though legislative houses retain the power to discipline their members.
