The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has rejected the 2025 budget proposal presented to the Zamfara State House of Assembly on Thursday, describing it as illegal.
The party said it is shocked and perplexed by the highest level of disregard for the nation’s constitution as displayed by Governor Dauda Lawal and the state legislature in the presentation and receipt of the 2025 budget proposal.
This was contained in a statement issued by the state APC publicity secretary, Mallam Yusuf Idris Gusau and made available to newsmen.
According to the statement: “The state government has done disservice not only against itself but to the entire people of the state.
“A state annual budget proposal presentation event is usually done openly for the entire world to see, know and possibly comment or contribute to the way and manner public tax payers’ money will be utilized by the government in the incoming year.
“While planning to spend over N545 billion, Governor Lawal and his group decided to hide themselves in the hallowed chamber of the State House of Assembly to cook up in secrecy how they intend to perfectly perpetrate their hidden agenda.
“To do this, the government, in collaboration with some bad security personnel, shielded everyone, especially the media, from covering the presentation and by implication denying the public knowledge or access to the budget.
“The legislature ahead of the presentation decided to suspend nine out of the 24 member state assembly who were suspected to possibly challenge the document during and after presentation so that the process would go unchallenged.
“This development plus the refusal of the member representing Kaura Namoda to participate in the unholy presentation left the Assembly unfortunately for Governor Dauda’s proponents with less than two thirds members who cannot constitutionally pass any bill and therefore nullifying and voiding today’s action.
“Even the 14 members that remained in the Assembly were said to have dropped to eight according to one media source.
“The APC in Zamfara therefore is calling on the governor, the state government and the state house of assembly to immediately reverse the charade done today as well as apologise to the people in their own interest or we will seek legal redress by dragging them to court.
“We are appealing to the nation’s anti corruption agencies especially the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the total abuse of financial regulations by the governor’s cabal to perpetuate illegality in our dear state.
“Throughout the country, at this moment, there’s no state assembly that has suspended about half of its members. Even the crisis in Rivers State cannot compare to this situation.
“However the minority leader of the House, Hon. Aliyu Ango was indirectly suspended where all his entitlements were also seized.
“Under the House Standing Rules, you can only suspend a member for not more than two weeks, which is equivalent to eight legislative days. Thus making this one a gross violation, moreso when the affected members have not been receiving their salaries and allowances nor were they given fair hearing to appear before the house Ethics and Privileges Committee over the matter for which they were suspended and without recourse to the fact that their respective constituencies are not represented at crucial decisions.
“The governor must know that governance is done according to constitutional provision not personal interests and abusing the constitutional rights of others, all these will boomerang on him even before the end of his tenure.”