The Kebbi State Government has announced the dismissal of three District Heads in three local government reas of the state for gross misconduct, insubordination, abscondment, fraud and partisanship.
Addressing a press conference in his office in Birnin Kebbi, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission in the state, Mansur Shehu said the action was in line with Public Service Rules .
He named the deposed district heads as Allhaji Lawal Yakubu, Mai Arewan Yeldu in Arewa Local Government Area, Malam Ahmed Sani, Sarkin Gabas Geza in Dandi LGA and Alhaji Tukur Aliyu, Jagwadejin Bakuwe from Suru LGA, in Gwandu and Arugungu Emirates.
The chairman said the action became imperative in view of the fact that management of the three local government councils formally lodged complaints with the commission on the affected district heads which necessitated the commission to thoroughly investigate the matter.
Shehu said: “The commission is saddled with the responsibilities, among other things, to take displinary action against unified local government staff from grade level seven and above, district heads inclusive in line with the provision of section 163 (1) of Kebbi State Local Government Law 2008.
“In line with the above mandate, therefore, upon receipt of these complaints, the commission suspended the district heads to give room for further investigation for necessary action. Accordingly, three committees were constituted each headed by a Permanent Commissioner in-charge of the area.”
He said the committees visited and interacted with both the local government management and the accused district heads, adding that after thorough investigation, the committees found substance in the submission by the local government councils.
“These district heads were charged with insubordination, gross misconduct, abscondment, fraud, partisanship and travelling without permission as the case may be.”
In order to establish cogent and verifiable reasons and evidences presented by the committees, the commission referred the matter to the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of the state for legal opinion and advice.
The chairman said the Attorney General subsequently, via three letters made his observation on each of the three cases sent to him by the commission, saying that the commission delved into further investigation based on the legal advice and came up with more substantiated evidence.
He further explained that after considering all issues, he convened a full meeting of the commission on Dec. 19, 2023 and a review meeting on Jan. 4, 2024 to look into all the cases and take a final decision in respect of the three district heads
The chairman said after all necessary investigations and consultations, the commission found the district heads liable to dismissal from local government service in line with public service rules.
Editor Oloyede Oworu
