By Rabiu Doma,Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has threatened to impeach the state Governor over the naming of “the state of the art” Taal Model School, and painting it with the colors of the defunct political party Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Other contentious issues include the naming of 200 units of tricycle to “keke Taal” as the House resolved that the Governor re-paints the entire structures constructed under the collaborative effort of the Universal Basic Education Board [UBEC] and the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board [NSUBEB].
The PDP controlled House of Assembly invited the executive chairman of NSUBEB, Abdulkarim Mohammed to clear the air on why the school constructed through the collaborative effort of UBEC and NSUBEB were named after the private company of the state Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura “Taal which mean “Tanko Al-Makura”. The Governor has a registered firm by the name Taal Nigeria Limited.
The House of Assembly posited that the Governor may claim the properties after the expiration of office.
The Assembly has given NSUBEB one month to renam and change the paint of the Model school as well change and rename the name the 200 units of Keke Taal to something different. The House has slated 27th of this month for them to appear before the lawmakers for questioning.
Another bone of contention raised by the PDP controlled House are the way and manner the chief executive is running the affairs of the state – bordering on allegation of financial aggrandizement.
An insider from the House of Assembly who spoke on the condition of anonymity indicated that the lawmakers are furious over the meager Ramadan gift of one bag of rice and to each member – adding that lawmakers are using the opportunity to cling the Governors wings. He further said “apart from the Taal Model school, the Governor constructed 213 classroom blocks cut across the nook and cranny of the state with CPC paints why didn’t the lawmakers making noise now? .
Adding that the fresh impeachment alert will not hold water”
Further findings by 247ureports uncovered that barely 28 months after assumption of office, the state Governor received over 8 impeachment threat which includes.
1.Impeachment threat over frequent oversea voyage,The House of Assembly last year raise alarm over the Governors foreign trip without due process,One of the Journey was the Governors voyage to the United State of America,But the Governor in an NTA Live program tag NTA Media chat maintained that he was the least traveling Governor in the country,As Al-Makura avers that hr embarked 11 foreign trips,saying 9 Journey are for state prosperity while 2 voyage are on medical grounds.
2.The second Impeachment threat was raised aftermath of the massacre of Assakio and Jenkwe,The headquater of Agyaragu, The Journey of the state Governor when the state was boiling .
3.Other Impeachment alert also occur when the lawmakers threatened to sacked the Governor for reckless handling of state affairs and resource, The cacophony raised include the illegal transfer of duty of Accountant General,Ministry for Local Government to the office of Head of service,Other lacuna also include the transfer of Directors of Personnel Management (DPM’s) .
4.While the Honorable House also accused the shendam road Government House landlord for financial incongruity through the employment of consultant to collect the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) ,Also the nomination of the chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) has generated tension over the presentation of Honorable Musa Agyo as the chairman of NASIEC for the second time,The Governor after a test of myth succumb to the position of the House.
5.The failure of the Governor to assent to bills passed the Assembly also ignited the scramble for Impeachment .
The Assembly also raised eyebrow over sacking of Local Government employees after the outcome of the screening, biometric and computerization of workers by Ahmed Zakari consultant.
6.The Assembly also insisted that the Managing Director of “Nasarawa Express” Phillip Iyakware be removed but the Governor flout the directive.
8.Other Impeachment saga was an allegation raised on flaunting procedural irregularities and bereft of the principle of Accountability as the lawmakers last year invited the Governor to give account of N2.355,193,660.38,money realised from the shortfall while N27.184,637,600.00 from the Local Government Joint account between the months of June, 2011 and April 2012 and N65m paid as arrears of dues to two labour unions to Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) .
9.The lawmakers also question the rationale on the spendings of N54.905,175.00 paid to Ahmed Zakari and company for conducting screening,data capture and computerization of workers at the Local Government Level,The lawmakers uncovered that the company was not registered as a chattered Accounting firm and did not paid the normal 5% Vat.
The House of Assembly described the contract as a sham, It further stated that Nasarawa state Government did not paid the constituent 10% to the state IGR,The House also accused the state Governor of transfer of stabilization account of N242.892,690.14 for the months of July,August,September,October,November,2011.
10.Also is the allegation of financial aggrandizement of N38.126,673.44 as fund released to Fadama lll projects between July and August 2011 and also fraud of N130,320,000.00 as payments to the MDG between December 15,2011 and January 6,2013.
The committee on public Account and Appropriation described the act as contrary to chapter 12 (ll) of the financial regulations Act 2003.
The Governor was given an Impeachment alert when he created additional
chiefdoms with the prior notice of the state Assembly.
The House of Assembly accused the Governor for the disappearance of N82,009,775.82 been the payments of liabilities to bank between July and August,Also is N37,347,477.21 paid in the months of January,February 2012 as arreas of salaries resulting from omissions or under payment,The Governor also accussed of defrauding N219,829,400.00 been payment to construction giant “Julius Berger” in November/December 2011 and Febuary ,March,2012 as well N127,352,075.95 released in July, August,October,December,2011 and January,Febuary, March 2012 as check-off dues to labour unions in the state,The honorable House also alleged the financial recklessness to include the award of contract for the painting of receipts of 13 Local Governments and 16 Development Areas arrears of march 2012 to euphoria communications to the tune of N70,406,660.00.
11.Other Impeachment that is hanging on the balance is the threat raised over the decision of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to suspend the management of Nasarawa State University,Keffi (NSUK),The sacking of the vice chancellor, Professor Shamsudeen Amali may not be unconnected to the report of the visitation panel submitted to the state Governor,Some onlookers continue to asked how soon will the 2 weeks ultimatum given to Governor Al-Makura to reinstate the management or risk his seat,Barely 2 months now no effort was or done about the Impeachment alert,only time shall tell
