Zamfara Budgets Passed Illegally, Suspended Lawmakers Claim

Six suspended lawmakers in Nigeria's Zamfara State have accused the state government of withholding their salaries. They say this is punishment for their political opposition. The group claims the state's annual budgets are illegal. Nigeria's constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass a budget. The Zamfara assembly has 24 members, meaning at least 16 must agree. With the six members suspended, only 18 lawmakers remain active. This means passing a budget legally requires the support of every single active member. The suspended officials allege this has not happened, making the state's budgets unconstitutional. The state government has not yet publicly responded to these allegations. The situation highlights ongoing political tensions in the northwestern state.