Ganduje blames other Northern Governors for Kano's Almajiri system's failure to reform

Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Kano State, has blamed other northern governors for his failure to enact reforms in the Almajiri system in Kano.

The inflow of Almajiri youngsters entering Kano State from surrounding states, according to Ganduje, has made it harder to undertake planned system improvements in Kano.

While he was doing his best to improve the Almajiri system, he said the process had been hampered by the casual attitude of other northern governors.

During a conversation with journalists at the Government House to commemorate this year's Democracy Day, the Kano Governor expressed his views on the topic.

“Unfortunately, most northern governors have not enacted any law on the Almajiri issue,” he says, “which is generating a lot of difficulties in realizing our ambitions of solving the challenge.”

Ganduje also refuted that the previous administration left N9 billion in pension and gratuity cash in the state coffers for him, instead claiming that he inherited N4 billion in unpaid gratuities and pension.

“I met an agreement with pensioners' money being utilized to build dwellings at Kwankwasiyya and Amana Cities,” Ganduje explained.

“Because of the financial difficulties we found ourselves in, we are unable to fulfill the responsibilities incurred from the housing plan, nor can we settle pension and gratuity.”

In other developments, two federal government agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), are at odds over some recovered funds.

It's been learned that the assets causing conflict between the two agencies are those recovered from and surrendered by some associates of Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The situation is now being addressed by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loots Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for Effective Efficient Management and Utilization.