NAN-H-89
Committee
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Lafia, April 12, 2017(NAN) The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has set up a five-man committee to investigate allegations that the state government was paying constituency allowances to the law makers.
The allegations were allegedly made by Hajia Hajara Danyaro, Special Adviser to Gov.Tanko Al-Makura on Gender Relations, Rehabilitation and Disability Matters.
The Speaker, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, while inaugurating the committee in Lafia on Wednesday, directed it to ascertain the truth and submit its report on April 25.
“We need to get to the roots of this matter; we must unearth the whole truth in the interest of peace,” Balarabe-Abdullahi declared.
He said that the measure was to give a fair hearing to the Special Adviser and also confirm if she had indeed paid any allowances to anyone.
The Speaker advised the committee to invite witnesses to testify on the said allegations, especially after Danyaro had denied making that claim to anyone.
“If it is a mere rumour, we must find out where it emanated from because it is capable of inciting the public against the House,” he said.
Earlier, the Special Adviser, while answering questions on the floor of the House, had denied the allegation.
“I respect members of this House; the said allegation against me is not true. I was surprised when I got the letter asking me to appear here over such allegation,” she said.
NAN reports that the committee is chaired by Mr Peter Mbucho, with Ibrahim Alkali, Mohammed Okpoku, Abubakar Kana and Abubakar Imam as members.
The House, on April 11, summoned Danyaro over a statement which quoted her as claiming that the legislators were being paid constituency allowances. (NAN)
BAB/MNA/ETS
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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu and Ephraims Sheyin