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Tag: Ganduje

  • Kano Rep to Ganduje, Kwankwaso: sheathe your sword

    Kano Rep to Ganduje, Kwankwaso: sheathe your sword

    A member of the House of Representatives from Kano State, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has urged Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to sheathe their swords and toe the path of reconciliation.

    In an open letter addressed to Ganduje and Kwankwaso, Jibrin, who represents the Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, described both as two political leaders who have come a long way and should find solution to their lingering political crisis instead of listening to sycophants who he said were instigating the crisis for selfish interest.

    In the letter copied to the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, President Muhammadu Buhari, National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and Chairman, Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, Jubrin noted that the recent political feud between the two leaders has affected the wheels of development in the state and called on men of good conscience to intervene and settle the matter.

    Said Jubrin, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Finance: “It is saddening that the crisis comes at a time when both of you have attained the pinnacle of your political careers and at the time both of you are grooming heirs to your robust political dynasty. But even more dismaying is seeing your political offspring, who were best of friends a few months ago, taking sides and quarrelling to crash the political empire you laboured to build for us.

    “My second fear is the domino effect of the crisis, which may spiral to other states, considering the fact that Kano is the nerve centre of the North. This is one reason notable individuals from far and near should intervene. One punchy Hausa proverb cautions that: “Idan gemun dan uwanka ya kama da wuta, shafawa naka ruwa.

    “Having analysed the crisis and made a political SWOT analysis of the situation, it is obvious that none of you stands to benefit from this row. The party will suffer. Both of you will be distracted. The masses will bear the brunt. And political opponents we defeated in the past will avail themselves of our differences to advance their political cause. The lizard finds a space to penetrate through the wall when it finds a crack.

    “It is evident that the crisis has gone out of hand as supporters of either camp have owned up and taken over the crisis, in the process diminishing your capacity to decide on reconciliatory moves.

    “As a solution to the crisis, I suggest that at some points of the reconciliation, your key allies and supporters be involved because of the role they play in starting, fanning and spreading the political inferno.

    “My dear leaders, upon all the political mentoring and the good political values you inculcate in us, what legacy are you now bequeathing to us, your political sons? It certainly shouldn’t be a legacy of division, nor a broken political home.”

    The lawmaker, however, commended the Emir of Kano, President Buhari and seven serving governors who he said have started moves to reconcile Ganduje and Kwankwaso, while insisting that the two leaders reconcile as they stand to benefit nothing from the face-off.

  • Ganduje: we’re ready to fight Buhari’s enemies

    Ganduje: we’re ready to fight Buhari’s enemies

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said yesterday that his administration would no longer tolerate anybody or group of persons who wanted to undermine the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The governor, who reacted to political development in the state, said his administration believed in the change agenda of the President and would resist any attempt to ridicule him.

    He spoke when he inspected a feeder road built at Zango-Bela in Nassarawa Local Government, barely one week after his predecessor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, paid him a controversial condolence visit on the death of his mother, Hajiya Fatima.

    Ganduje said his administration is in a war with anyone claiming Kano indigeneship but fighting Buhari behind the scene.

    According to him, his administration was ready to confront anyone who dared to challenge Buhari on Kano soil.

    He said his administration did not believe in brandishing weapons to achieve its goals, adding that the only way to win the goodwill of the people was by treading the path of diplomacy.

  • Ganduje, Kwankwaso: The parting of ways

    Ganduje, Kwankwaso: The parting of ways

    The battle line may have been drawn between Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. Both leaders are fighting for the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Northwest state. Correspondent KOLADE ADEYEMI examines the supremacy battle and its implications for the party and future careers of the two gladiators.

    For a long time, there were insinuations that Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, had parted ways. Recent events have confirmed that the two leaders ceased to be the best of friends, following the change of baton in the state.

    On May 29, last year, Kwankwaso handed over to Ganduje, his former deputy. The governor served twice under his former boss as deputy governor between 1999 and 2003 and 2011 and 2015. Although Ganduje was interested in the driver’s seat, he was persuaded to step down for Kwankwaso.

    In 2003, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) scuttled the Kwankwaso/Ganduje second term ambition. In defeat, Kwankwaso and Ganduje remained political soul mates. When Kwankwso was appointed Minister of Defence by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ganduje served as Kwankwaso’s Special Adviser. Although Ganduje challenged Kwankwaso in 2007 when he imposed Ahmed Garba Bichi as the flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the wishes of many party chieftains and elders, they later closed ranks. Shekarau defeated Bichi. But, in 2011, Kwankwaso and Ganduje returned to the State House.

    Ahead of last year’s election, Ganduje unfolded his ambition to succeed Kwankwaso. To his consternation, the former governor was reluctant to endorse his bid. A seasoned politician, Ganduje moved fast. He approached party stakeholders for help and got their endorsement. Kwankwaso concentrated on his ambition to clinch the presidential ticket of the All Progressive Party (APC). When he failed at the primary, he contested and won the Kano Central senatorial seat.

    Governor Ganduje inherited a debt of N400 billion. He grumbled that his former boss left a huge debt burden. Observers were taken aback because Ganduje was part of the preceding administration.

    The bubble burst during Kwankwaso’s visit to Kano on March 7 to condole with Ganduje over the death of his mother, Hajiya Fatima Umar Ganduje. Kwankwaso went to Ganduje, the governor’s  hometown where he turned the condolence visit into a political rally to unfold his 2019 presidential ambition.

    The move elicited condemnation by the party chairman, Alhaji Haruna Umar Doguwa, and Alhaji Audu Kirare, the acting chairman of the Elders Committee. They alleged that Kwankwaso hired a crowd to sing his praise.  Doguwa said: “They climbed over the fence, breaking the iron barriers and destroying the security scanners at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport. Also, the thugs were busy distributing presidential campaign posters, car stickers reading ‘Kwankwasiyya 2019, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaspo for President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.” In his view, the senator was involved in anti-party activities.

    The party chairman added: “The Kano state APC Executive Committee and Elders hereby condemn the character and texture of the Kwankwaso condolence visit and its portent objective as a launch pad of his Presidential ambition campaign which was wholly unfounded. We wish to state categorically that there is no presidential vacancy in the first place. Our loyalty and commitment is to our able President Muhammadu Buhari and his policies and programmes.

    “What specifically made the visit a misdemeanour to our party’s spirit of discipline and brotherhood, was the fact that the visit was purely political as against the mission of condolence. We wish to unequivocally state that the leadership of APC in Kano was not officially informed about the intention of the Senator to pay a condolence visit to the bereaved Governor Ganduje let alone the display of seemingly presidential campaign slogans and chanting of hatred and vulgar vituperations against Governor Ganduje organized and executed during the visit.

    “We want to categorically reinstate here that the state party leadership has not in any way be part of this unfortunate political misconduct, will not support it and will not condone it. The act of thuggery and brazen show of daggers, swords and other forms of weapons by sponsored and hired hoodlums was totally unwholesome, abhorable, condemnable by all our teeming loyal party members. We also want to state categorically that the party and leadership hierarchy as enshrined in the APC constitution must be respected by all party members irrespective of their concerted arrogance. The APC leader in Kano State is the Governor Aabdullahi Umar Ganduje, whose leadership of the state and the party must be jealously guarded by all well meaning members of the party.

    “The party will leave no stone unturned in ensuring discipline, orderliness and loyalty as prescribed by the constitution of the party. We hereby call on all party members in the state to remain calm and resolute in their unity and tolerance and also shun being used by disgruntled elements to achieve their self-serving motives.”

    However, Kwankwaso urged Ganduje to desist from fanning the embers of division in the APC. He said the governor should concentrate on giving the people of Kano dividends of democracy. Kwankwaso, who spoke through his former Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Yunusa Adam Dangwani, advised Ganduje to stick to the tenets of the APC and stop using the name of President Muhammadu Buhari to cover the weaknesses of his administration.

    He said: “It is apt at this juncture to call on the Kano State Government to desist from dragging the name of President Muhammadu Bbuhari to cover for their administration’s obvious weaknesses.

    “We urge you to rather strive to concentrate on facing the enormous challenges of governance such that perhaps, he may also be revered and respected by the good people of Kano state. It is therefore appalling and rather unfortunate that the good gesture of Senator Kwankwaso has been mischievously interpreted wrongly.  Against this backdrop, at Ganduje town, we were surprised that some local people brandished local weapons, not minding the sober occasion. It is unfortunate that they could not be chided. Thus, we left them with their weapons at Ganduje.”

    The war between the two leaders took a frightening dimension last weekend Doguwa raised the alarm that he was made to sign the press statement credited to him under duress by the state government. He denied accusing Kwankwaso of sponsoring thugs during his condolence visit.

    Doguwa said: “The previous press statement read and signed by me was not written by my humble self; neither did I participate in the drafting, but rather, I was coerced to sign under duress and under the close marking by the state apparatus. What makes it more curious for me to recant this is the fact that the Elders Committee is not part of the party executive, hence, procedurally, we cannot issue a joint statement. I, therefore, consider this as an oversight on the part of the party to issue such statement.”

    According to him, the state government “has confused purely social event with politics.” “The visit by the former Governor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to fraternise and condole his former Deputy and now the executive Governor of our great state has been politicized out of proportion.”

    Doguwa added: “We have observed this with concern and that this action is capable of pitching our members against one another.” Doguwa noted that other politicians, including those from the opposition parties who came to the venue of the condolence, even though, with handful of followers exhibited similar activities which Senator Kwankwaso is accused of.  In order to forestall unpleasant consequences on the party and its teeming supporters, I find it necessary to profusely apologize on the statement earlier issued and hereby withdraw that statement.

    “The said press statement, which I hereby disassociate myself from, is indeed, a product of warped and mischievous elements, whose stance and antics are causing confusion and disunity among the rank and file of our great party and the administration of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje are known to all and sundry.”

    The romance between Ganduje and Kwankwso may have crashed, following the contentious development. Supporters of both leaders are flying the kites, a situation capable of killing the philosophy of the Kwankwasiyya Movement. In fact, it was gathered that supporters of Ganduje have advised him to discard the red cap symbol and create another colour that will represent and reflect the political ideology of the Gandujiyya Political Movement.

     

  • Coalition commiserates with Ganduje, victims of Kano fire

    Coalition commiserates with Ganduje, victims of Kano fire

    The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa has commiserated with the Government and people of Kano State over an early morning fire that gutted the multi-billion Naira Singer Market, where goods and cash estimated at N3 Billion were destroyed.

    The Coalition, in a statement in Abuja at the weekend, by its Media Coordinator, Mr. Patrick Omene said, “this is most unfortunate to the economy of Kano State, more so coming after Kurmi market, the oldest market in Kano was destroyed by fire and the last month inferno at the furniture section of Abubakar Rimi market”.

    The numerous inferno in Kano state no doubt, came with devastating losses in its wake with tales of pain, anguish and hopelessness at a time the economy is experiencing a global downturn, Omene observed.

    According to Omene, “We share in the pains of the victims of these unfortunate incidents. We also commiserate with Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at these trying times just as we commend Mr. Governor for the plans to inject the sum of N2bn in the Microfinance banks to establish an enabling environment for Small and Medium Enterprises to grow and operate in the state”.

    The right group said, “We wants to thank the Federal Government for making plans to alleviate the sufferings of the victims and other well-meaning Nigerians for their support and understanding.”

  • Ganduje’s strides in education sector

    On November 30, 2015, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR, Governor of Kano State proclaimed a renewed effort targeted at revolutionizing and transforming the state’s education sector into a more qualitative, vibrant, efficient and result-oriented one.

    In a well-attended event, graced by prominent and illustrious individuals and groups, Governor Ganduje, crossed into the hallowed annals of history to unveil two committees formed for the singular purpose of solving the myriads of problems besetting the education in the state.

    The twin committees, namely the State Education Promotion Committee and the Local Government Education Promotion Committee seek to work on a joint mandate to re-invigorate the state’s education sector in order to meet the requisite standard that will serve as a model to other states across the country.

    What makes the idea of these committees a laudable one is the courageous resolve of Governor Ganduje to release the sum of N10 Million to each of the 44 local government areas of the state for logistics so that they can kick start the work without delay. This brings the total amount released to the local government committees to the enormous sum of N440 million.

    In these austere times characterized by rapidly decreasing oil price and the general economic slowdown being experienced across the country, Governor Ganduje, has certainly achieved an exceptional feat that no other state is able to achieve.

    Appositely, the governor’s timely and humane decision was taken in consideration of his longstanding and deeply entrenched experience as a teacher, lecturer and a veteran administrator whose commitment to education is universally acknowledged.

    Highlighting his determination to uphold the sanctity of education, Ganduje, recalled a statement he made during his inaugural speech: “…it is universally accepted that the foundation of qualitative education starts from the basic or primary level. This administration intends to take necessary measures in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, with a view to ensuring that all children are enrolled in primary schools nearest to them as soon as they attain school age”.

    The governor’s idea of forming the education promotion committees stems from the stark reality that no matter the commitment of government to the cause of education, it cannot succeed totally without the much needed input of well-meaning individuals, groups and international humanitarian organizations.

    This is why the committees is composed of membership that cut-across public and private sectors as well as the political and traditional institutions in order to demonstrate the seriousness that the education sector commands at all levels.

    At this juncture, it is necessary to briefly introduce the committees so as to give an insight into their workings and potentials for success:

    The State Education Promotion Committee has 35 members led by Alhaji Tajuddeen Aminu Dantata as chairman. The committee is set to among other things to monitor and evaluate rehabilitation projects carried out by the local government committees; mobilize financial and material support from well-meaning groups and pay regular visits to schools with the aim of ensuring prompt attendance of pupils and teachers and monitoring quality delivery of knowledge.

    The Local Government Committee is set up in each of the 44 local government areas of the state with the leaders of the APC caucus in each of the LGAs as chairmen. Before any critic raises a hand on this, let it be quickly known that the local chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in each of the LGAs, being critical stakeholders, are also members because Dr. Ganduje understands perfectly that education is an all-inclusive venture.

    Overall both committees are expected to meet the following objectives: To rehabilitate schools for conducive learning condition, provide infrastructural materials for quality teaching, to instill discipline and punish errant staff as well as ensure adequate number of teaching personnel in schools.

    Anybody who means well for Kano would know that Ganduje has astutely set Kano on the path of unprecedented progress and development in all facets of life by taking the all-important step to reshape education in the state. Fortunately, Kano people have extra benefits to enjoy in this regard because the Deputy Governor, Professor Hafiz Abubakar who is also the Honourable Commissioner of Education will add impetus to this noble scheme.

    As a veteran academic who reached the pinnacle of his career to become a professor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC, Academics) at the reputable Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Professor Abubakar certainly possesses what it takes to turn education around.

    Although the governor and his deputy have taken the lead to re-vitalize education for the betterment of our society, we all have a collective responsibility to give them our maximum support in order to succeed.

    As Dr. Ganduje pointed out, the subsisting “policy on compulsory and free primary education poses greater challenge to our ability to achieve the objective of this all important endeavor”.

    This is because the policy does not only affect children that are already enrolled in primary schools but also the over three million Almajiri children studying in Quranic schools who also need to be absorbed into the formal education sector.

    In view of this, it is necessary to understand that the task before the Kano State government is a colossal one that requires total encouragement and support from all citizens from all walks of life. In fact, it is in appreciation of this reality that Ganduje seeks to extend his vision to other northern governors whose states are also affected by same challenges as the Almajiri Syndrome.  As he aptly stated: “This indispensable policy, a noble objective to ensure of education for all can only be achieved through tenacious and sustainable implementation of the policy of compulsory and free primary education in the state. Indeed all contiguous states across the affected regions must adopt same (policy) in order to ensure a decent life for children and unfettered access for all”.

    The setting up of the education promotion committees has come as a timely intervention borne out of Dr. Ganduje’s steadfast, dogged and extreme passion to restore dignity to education as the necessary tool for social change and the catalyst for development.

    • Kudu is Senior Assistant (Print) to Kano State Governor.

  • GANDUJE PLANS FILM MARKET IN KANO

    AS a way of curbing piracy in Kano State and environs, Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has pledged to build a film market within the Hausa movie segment in Nigeria otherwise known as Kannywood.

    Ganduje said this during a courtesy visit by the management of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB).

    The governor who lamented the scourge of piracy in the industry, promised that only genuine movie products will be sold in the proposed market.

    Ganduje who called for a national legislation to tackle the menace of piracy in the industry, emphasised on how Kannywood has played a major role in the return to power of the Kwankwaso administration in which he was deputy governor   in 2011. He related how the sitting administration then had dispersed the movie practitioners, most of whom took to “exile” away from Kano and how the then opposition led by Governor Kwankwaso wooed the filmmakers and used their jingles and theme music for mobilisation in the subsequent elections which they won.

    Director-General of the NFVCB, Ms Patricia Bala, had stated how Kano as the hub of the Hausa Language film genre remained very important to the Board. She bemoaned the increasing assimilation of the Indian film culture by Kannywood productions and promised that the Board was working towards moderating this unwholesome development. The DG was accompanied to the visit by the enlarged management team of the Board, as well as staff of the Northwest zone with offices in Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, and Dutse.

  • Ganduje pledges to guarantee legislative autonomy

    Ganduje pledges to guarantee legislative autonomy

    kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has assured that his administration would continue to work in unison with the legislature to give dividends of democracy to the people.

    He made the remark at the closing of first legislative retreat for members of the House of Assembly, at Ibeto Hotel, Abuja. He said:  “My administration would continue to support your legislative task which we always cherish based on its substance in achieving a well – articulated and coherent mode of governance”.

    “Our government would in no way attempt to tamper with the independence of the legislative arm. Your autonomy is guaranteed under this administration and would continue to be respected”.

    On the theme of the retreat, “Concrete Milestones in Legislative Independence and its relevance to the Current Drive for Change in the Mode of Governance at State and Federals Levels”, the governor described it as an attempt that will translate into changing the tenets of governance for the overall good of the citizenry.

    He stressed that the real measure of the retreat “lies on how its outcome would help towards transforming the lives of the people”.

    While thanking the legislators for the cooperation and understating that resulted in the modest achievements of the state government in the past six months, the governor charged them to sustain their zeal and patriotism.

  • Ganduje pledges to guarantee legislative autonomy

    Ganduje pledges to guarantee legislative autonomy

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has assured that his administration would continue to work in unison with the legislature to give dividends of democracy to the people.

    He made the remark at the closing of first legislative retreat for members of the House of Assembly, at Ibeto Hotel, Abuja. He said:  “My administration would continue to support your legislative task which we always cherish based on its substance in achieving a well – articulated and coherent mode of governance”.

    “Our government would in no way attempt to tamper with the independence of the legislative arm. Your autonomy is guaranteed under this administration and would continue to be respected”.

    On the theme of the retreat, “Concrete Milestones in Legislative Independence and its relevance to the Current Drive for Change in the Mode of Governance at State and Federals Levels”, the governor described it as an attempt that will translate into changing the tenets of governance for the overall good of the citizenry.

    He stressed that the real measure of the retreat “lies on how its outcome would help towards transforming the lives of the people”.

  • Ganduje presents N274.824b as 2016 Appropriation Bill

    Ganduje presents N274.824b as 2016 Appropriation Bill

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje yesterday presented the 2016 Appropriation Bill, tagged: Budget for Self-Reliance, comprising N274,824,600,378 billion.

    The Appropriation Bill has a capital expenditure of N191,552,889,552,889,518, which is higher than that of 2015 budget by N55,940,931,633 billion, to be financed by N74,138,821,209 billion expected from recurrent revenue surplus and capital receipts of N117,414,068,309 billion.

    The recurrent expenditure was put at N157,410,532,069 billion, consisting of N60 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and N97,410,532,069 revenue from the Federation Account.

    The governor said the recurrent revenue is higher than that of 2015 with N43,527,382,589 billion by 28 per cent.

    He said: “This will be made possible with the current reform in the Board of Internally Revenue and the engagement of consultants, which will provide us with better strategies and new ideas of revenue collections.”

     

    At the presentation of the Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly, Ganduje said his administration was determined to boost infrastructural development, adding that this explained why the Infrastructure sector carried the highest allocation with N64.39 billion.

    He said: “Out of this allocation, N7.3 billion is for the conversion of Plaza Cinema to a multi-storey car park, an overpass to link Kantin Kwari Market, general rehabilitation of the market and provision of new stalls and modern collapsible stalls, minor and major works, constituency projects, renovation of Audu Bako secretariat, establishment of ultra-modern integrated skills and acquisition centre in the state.”

    Urban and Regional Development is allocated N44.1 billion, while Education has N23.65 billion, followed by Health with N13.7 billion allocation.

    Water and rural development is allocated N13.3 billion., agriculture, N7.5 billion, Commerce and Industry, N647 million, women development, N937 million, information, N1.2 billion, environment, N2.18 billion, judiciary, N1.25 billion and Information, N1.2 billion.

    Ganduje, however, warned that his government will not condone indiscipline and corruption as he is determined to ensure that Kano state and its people get the needed democratic dividends.

    While receiving the 2016 Appropriation Bill, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Alhasan Rurum assured the Governor that the budget is safe and in good hands, adding that in conformity with international best legislative practice, the House will conduct a public hearing with inputs from civil society organizations and members of the public and all critical stakeholders before the budget is passed into law.

     

  • Ganduje raises alarm over poor financial status of Kano

    Ganduje raises alarm over poor financial status of Kano

    Kano state governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Wednesday raised alarm over the poor financial status of the state, lamenting that he is spending almost all the money that come from Federal Allocation on the payment of salaries.

    Ganduje who spoke to the state Correspondent Chapel in an interactive session at the Government House said that out of the N4.2 billion received from the Federal Allocation, N3.6 billon is expended on payment of salary for civil servants in the state.

    According to him, the implication is that the state is left with little or nothing to cater for developmental projects, therefore, no option than to reform the Board of Internally Generated Revenue for proper efficiency in the state revenue drive.

    In his words, “whatever I say and whatever we want to do, the problem is funding. I will like to inform you that what we are receiving from Federal Government at the moment is less than half of what we used to receive last year. The problem started right from the beginning of the year, Kano state used to get N8 Billion, N9 Billion, N10 Billion per months, now it is just N4 Billion, in fact, this month, we received just N4.2 billion and our salaries are up to N3.6 billion.

    “So, see the little difference. The only option is IGR—Internally Generated Revenue which many people do not like to hear but which any economist will like to hear because it is an issue of expenditure and income. No income, no expenditure, low income, low expenditure but we have come a long way, Kano is a mega city. A mega city is not only a city where you have a great number of people, a mega city is a city where things are working, where there is water, where there is electricity, where infrastructures are functioning, where the road networks are okay, where the transport systems is okay, where the security is okay and what make Kano a mega city are functioning.

    “We want to have a true integrated rural development where accessibility is easy, where water is provided, where rural electrification is provided and where agricultural facilities are also provided. To this effect we are very very serious with IGR. We have advised that we must reform the institution. We know there are some people who are talking nonsense that we want to send away those who are collecting revenues; they are civil servants, they are this, we are employing people for this and that, but I tell you that the institution must be reformed because we must get what we are suppose to get. We must make sure that all what we get is judiciously appropriated.

    “To that effect, I want to tell them that the Governor has the powers to dissolve, sack a Board of Internally Generated Revenue in Kano state. We have consulted some international organizations like DFID, SPARK and others with some professionals and we are coming up with total restructuring. Now, we are going to have an executive chairman who is independent; we are having a Director of Assessment, we are having a Director of Collection, we are having a Director of Planning, Research and Statistic, we are having a Director of Personal Income Tax, a Director of Roads and Other Taxes, a Director of ICT. We are going to have a Director of Auditing Accounts, anything you put in, I will get alert—that is the new system, anything you remove, I will get alert.

    “We will have Director of MTR—Main Tax Revenue. Also, we are employing consultants who specialize in one area or another and their remuneration is tied down to their collection. No money is coming out from Kano state government. Whatever they collect, we will work out a proportion to be given to them.”

    He further stated that on  the issue of PAYE, “most of private organizations are not remitted what they collected from PAYE, which they deducted from employees and big companies don’t do that, banks don’t do that, even institutions, educational institutions, even universities, private hospitals, there are lots of monies tied down that were not been collected by government  We have competent consultants, with track records, with evidence from other states like Lagos which we will verified it was true to manage our revenue for us.”