Deputy Minority Leader of Nasarawa state house of assembly, Hon Luka Iliya Zhekaba ( PDP- Obi 2) has been suspended over his alleged involvement in the fake employment of 38 secondary school teachers in the state.
His suspension was announced by Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, after the house deliberated on a report of the House Committee on Education, on the recruitment of 366 teachers and 38 fake teachers in the payroll of the state civil service during plenary in Lafia.
Abdullahi noted that the House is not against the employment of the teachers, but due process must be followed for equity and fairness and recruitment of teachers should be a periodic exercise.
The Speaker said;
“The committee recommended that Hon Luka Iliya Zhekaba, Deputy Minority Leader of the House should be suspended and an ad-hoc committee be set up to investigate his alleged involvement in the fake employment of the teachers.
“I hereby set up a three-man ad- hoc committee to investigate his alleged involvement and report back to the House within two weeks.
“Hon Suleiman Yakubu Azara, member representing Awe South constituency is the Chairman of the committee; Hon Usman Labaran Shafa, member representing Toto/ Gadabuke constituency and Hon Samuel Tsebe, member representing Akwanga South as members of the committee.
“Mr Ibrahim Musa, the Deputy Clerk of the House is the Secretary of the committee. I can’t question his activities or involvement for now until the committee concludes its findings,as you commence your investigation, I wish you success.
“Mr Anthony Ladan, a Senior Accountant, Bureau for Salaries who admitted to including the names of 38 teachers into the payroll of the state government without a directive from the Commissioner of Finance”.
The Speaker also directed that a staff of the Ministry of Education, Mr Michael Adonye Johnny who is alleged to be a syndicate, should proceed on compulsory retirement.
He added;
“Mr John Nuhu, a former staff of the Teachers Service Commission ( TSC) and Ministry of Information, and a syndicate of fake employment, is to be handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution.”