The Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended six of its members for opposing Governor Umaru Al-Makura’s decision to swear in 11 sole administrators without the clearance of the House.
The six members were suspended indefinitely for “misconduct and for bringing the House to disrepute”, following a free-for-all in the Assembly’s chamber on Monday.
It was gathered that the House took the advantage of the absence of the aggrieved members, allegedly invited by the State Security Service over the crisis, to take the decision.
On Monday, the House adjourned sitting indefinitely after attempts to suspend the members in plenary at about 4pm failed.
Speaking on the floor of the House, the Majority Leader, Tanko Tunga, moved a motion for the suspension of the six lawmakers for misconduct and bringing the Assembly to disrepute.
The motion, which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Muhammed Alkali, was supported by 14 members of the Assembly, including the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Godiya Akwashiki.
The House, therefore, suspended the lawmakers indefinitely, placing them on half salaries without any allowances pending the resolution of the matter.
Reacting to the suspension, a member representing Wamba Constituency, Mkpa Malla, described the suspension as a “rape of democracy”.
He vowed that the group would seek redress in court.
