Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle

The Zamfara House of Assembly on Tuesday repealed a law that allowed the payment of pension and other allowances for the state’s former governors and their deputies.

Spokesperson of the state’s assembly, Mustapha Jafaru, made this known in a statement issued to journalists.The law also affects former speakers of the House of Assembly and their deputies.

Presenting the bill before the House on Tuesday, House leader, Hon Faruk Musa Dosara urged his colleagues to, as a matter of urgency, consider the repeal of the law which provided jumbo pay for former political leaders in the state to the detriment of retired civil servants who have not been paid their entitlements over the years.

Seconding the motion at the chamber, Hon Tukur Jekada Birnin Tudu from Bakura Local Government Area said the abolition of the law was necessary.

After serious deliberations by House members, the Speaker, Hon Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya, ordered the Clerk of the House to give the bill first and second reading. The House then went for a committee of the whole meeting, after which  the bill went for a third reading. The House then passed the bill into law which would be sent to the governor for assent.

“With this development, all past political leaders in Zamfara will no longer enjoy any entitlements unless those prescribed by the National Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission,” Jafaru said.