Kaduna State Government has spent N25 million for the hosting of the inaugural colloquium of the former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II despite the cash crunch bedeviling the state.
This is coming as Governor Nasiru El-Rufai embarked upon mass sack of civil servants, hiking tuition fees ik pubic schools by over 500 percent, introduction of multiple taxes and levies, among others.
El-Rufai has severally stated that the rightsizing of civil servants was necessary because of dwindling revenues accruing to the state government from the federation account.
Sanusi was appointed Kano emir by Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso in June 2014. He was however sacked in March 2020 by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje over allegations of corruption and insubordination.
The approval, contained in a leaked official memo of the state government, elicited outrage from the opposition who said the expenditure was insensitive and callous at a time the state government is sacking workers because of its poor revenue profile.
The colloquium was held to mark the 60th birthday of the former Kano emir.
The controversial financial ‘assistance’
The memo, dated 9 August 2021, was addressed to the Commissioner of Finance, titled “Re: Request for Kaduna State Government Assistance in Hosting the Inaugural Muhammed Sanusi ll Colloquium,” has reference number SSG/KDS/364/VOL.T.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE has obtained the memo which was signed by the Permanent Secretary (General Services), Muhammad Bashir Umar, on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government.
The memo reads: “I’m directed to refer to the letters reference A’C on the above subject (therewith attached) and to convey Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor’s approval for the release of the sum of N25 million only for the purpose stated therein.
“Accept the assurance of the best regards of the Secretary to the State Government now and always, please,”
Funding Sanusi’s birthday with public funds callous – PDP, others
The leading opposition party in the state said financing a private birthday of the former emir is callous and abuse of public funds.
The secretary to the Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna State, Mr Ibrahim Wosono, told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE, that using tax payers money for the event was an abuse of office.
“The money shouldn’t have been from the state resources. The officials should have assisted the former emir on their personal capacity instead of using the government resources. Since they can afford it at their individual level, why dipping their hands into the public purse?” he said.
“Using resources from the state treasury is insensitive,” the PDP scribe said.
Speaking to our reporter in Kaduna, a retired civil servant, Madam Asibi Yohanna, said the action is insensitive. “The governor is sacking civil servants, increasing school fees and imposing all manner of taxes just to generate revenue.
“For the same Governor to be using our scarce resources on frivolities like hosting a birthday for his friend is insensitive and outright abuse of office,” the widow said.
“I have two girls in Kaduna State University (KASU) and the tuition has been increased from about N30,000 to N150,000. I don’t know what to do now. It is callous for the same state government to be subsidizing the lifestyles of some VIPs,” she said.
A Kaduna resident, Usman Garba, said “I have seen nothing wrong in supporting former Emir Sanusi`s colloquium. Besides, he is the Chancellor of Kaduna State University, and also a Deputy Chairman of Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA).
“He has contributed to the state economic development, so he deserves more than what the government gave him as donation based on my view.”
Another resident, Mansur Ahmad said “I think it’s wrong for the state government to use N25 million when they always claimed there is no fund to pay pensioners and other civil servants they downsized in the state.”
He said the N25 million should have been used to settle the outstanding payment of some of pensioners instead.
With this development, it is clear that the former emir is a liability to the state, he added.
Nothing wrong in funding Sanusi’s colloquium – Official
Governor El-Rufai’s Special Adviser Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, couldn’t be reached for comment on the story. He didn’t pick calls, or reply to text and WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile phone on Saturday.
But a state official who declined being named because he was not authorised to speak told our reporter that there was nothing wrong in the state government’s funding the former emir’s event.
He said “even at the colloquium today, the former emir acknowledged the support of the state government for the event. And as far as the Kaduna state government is concerned, they are standing by the man (Sanusi) for his accomplishments.”
He explained that the financial assistance to the emir was not new because “other people and organisations do come to seek for support from the state government for their events and they are assisted.”
