Nine suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have accused both the state government and the Assembly leadership of withholding their salaries and allowances for nearly two years following their suspension.

The lawmakers made these claims in an interview with DW Hausa on Tuesday, alleging that they were suspended on February 27, 2024, after raising concerns about insecurity in their constituencies.

One of the lawmakers, Bashir Abubakar, who represents Bukkuyum North Constituency, claimed the group was targeted after addressing the escalating security challenges in their areas.

“We raised issues of insecurity affecting our people, and shortly after, nine of us were suspended,” Abubakar stated.

The lawmakers also alleged that their suspension led to efforts to arrest them, with security agencies allegedly mobilized against them.

In response, Bilyaminu Moriki, the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, denied the allegations, stating that the lawmakers were suspended for breaching legislative procedures, not for addressing security concerns.

Moriki explained that the suspended lawmakers had allegedly locked the Assembly chamber and conducted an unauthorized sitting while principal officers were still in the complex. “No lawmaker has the right to lock the chamber against other members. The Assembly acted in line with established laws and procedures,” he added.

On the issue of withheld salaries, the suspended lawmakers accused the Assembly of operating illegally and diverting their entitlements to serving members. Aliyu Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South Constituency, revealed that their salaries had been withheld for 22 months.

Kagara further alleged that budgets had been passed without the constitutionally required quorum, as the Assembly, which should have 24 members, had been functioning with only 15 lawmakers.

However, Speaker Moriki maintained that suspended lawmakers are not entitled to salaries or allowances, asserting that all actions taken by the Assembly were lawful.

The lawmakers confirmed that the matter is currently before the court, though they accused the state government and the Assembly of frustrating the legal process, an allegation the Speaker denied.

Moriki also disclosed that there had been discussions about reinstating the suspended lawmakers, but Governor Dauda Lawal had agreed to their return only if they apologized to the Assembly, a condition the lawmakers reportedly rejected.