By Muhd D Haidar
A political storm is brewing in Jigawa State as the House of Assembly has launched a sweeping probe into the administration of former governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, alongside 27 local government council chairmen, over alleged large-scale financial mismanagement.
In a decisive move during plenary, lawmakers unanimously adopted the report of the House Committee on Public Accounts, ordering the recovery of funds suspected to have been mismanaged between 2019 and 2024.
Presenting the report, Committee Chairman Hon. Isyaku Abubakar revealed that the investigation followed extensive public hearings and a painstaking review of audit reports from the State and Local Government Auditor-General’s offices.
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The committee, he said, dug deep into financial records ranging from payment vouchers to procurement documents across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and all 27 local councils.
Top-ranking officials, including commissioners, permanent secretaries, and finance directors, were summoned to defend their handling of public funds.
Local government officials were not spared either, as chairmen and key administrators appeared before the panel amid intense scrutiny of their financial activities.
According to Abubakar, the committee maintained a firm but fair stance, ensuring all parties were heard while upholding strict standards of transparency and accountability.
What emerged, however, paints a troubling picture. At the state level, the report uncovered budget overruns, questionable procurement practices, and significant lapses in revenue collection. At the grassroots, the findings were even more alarming ranging from missing records and unauthorized payments to outright financial discrepancies and unverifiable expenditures.
In some cases, funds were allegedly overpaid, cheques could not be accounted for, and critical documents were either missing or deliberately destroyed.
“These systemic failures not only weaken fiscal discipline but also erode public confidence in governance,” Abubakar stated.
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The committee has now recommended the full recovery of all mismanaged funds and strict disciplinary measures against those found culpable.
Beyond individual accountability, the report also exposed deeper structural flaws, including poorly trained financial personnel, weak enforcement of regulations, and outdated manual accounting systems prone to manipulation.
To stem the tide, lawmakers are pushing for sweeping reforms ranging from mandatory professional certification for finance officers to strengthening the independence of the Auditor-General’s office and enforcing tougher sanctions.
Speaker of the House, Hon. Haruna Aliyu, praised the committee’s diligence, vowing that the findings would be promptly forwarded to the executive for immediate action.
The report was adopted without opposition in a voice vote, signaling rare unanimity in what is shaping up to be one of the most consequential probes in the state’s recent political history.
Political Undercurrents, the timing of the probe has raised eyebrows across the state’s political landscape. It comes just days after the government set up a reconciliation committee aimed at resolving lingering tensions between allies of former Governor Badaru and supporters of the incumbent, Governor Namadi.
Observers believe the investigation may be more than just a financial accountability exercise.
The recent defection of several Badaru loyalists particularly former council chairmen to the ADC has unsettled the ruling APC, fueling speculation that the probe could be politically motivated.
Political analysts warn that if the investigation is pursued to its logical conclusion, it could send shockwaves through Jigawa’s power structure, as a significant number of current lawmakers and government officials reportedly served under Badaru’s administration.
With alliances shifting and tensions rising, the unfolding probe may not only determine financial accountability but also reshape the state’s political future.
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