The Kano state government has released N1.2bn to the 44 local government councils in the state to augment their federal allocations so they can pay workers’ salary for the month of June.
The state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje explained that the move became necessary as the deceasing allocation to the councils from the Federation Account is no longer sufficient to pay salaries, let alone address other development issues.
In a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, the governor disclosed this during a Ramadan Iftar on Wednesday, with management of tertiary educational institutions in the state, which was also attended by his Kogi state counterpart, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Ganduje explained that the only option left for states is for them to look of more Internally Generated Revenue, to withstand the current economic realities.
He recalled that during the immediate past administration, the state government used to have a balance of N4 – N5 billion after paying salary monthly, pointing out that with the dwindling capital receipts from the Federal government now, his government is compelled to look inwards in order to remain afloat.
To closely coordinate its earning and expenditure therefore, Ganduje asserted that the Single Treasury Account is indispensable for his government, noting that although it would affect tertiary institutions in the state, it would not put them in a disadvantaged position.
“Whenever you collect your revenues, declare them. We will then release the money to you for your day to day activities,” he maintained.
The Governor explained that although he inherited problems in the tertiary education sector, prominent among which is the issue of accreditation of courses, the government would do its best to support the institutions to live up to their mandates.
He also dwelt on the rationale behind establishing the state Education Promotion Committees, which he said is to encourage community participation in the sector, pointing that N10 million has been released to each local government committee to facilitate renovation of primary schools.
“We shall evaluate the performance of the local government committees and make more money available to deserving committees as part of our effort to revitalize education,” Ganduje maintained.
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