Headlines
Stakeholders converge in Kano, advocate local government reforms
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (MfLGCA), in collaboration with the FCDO funded Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Change (PACE) FCDO, organised a high-profile Stakeholders’ Dialogue Session focused on advancing local governance reforms across the state.
Held in Kano, the event attracted more than 30 participants representing the MfLGCA, Kano State House of Assembly, Local Government Areas (LGAs), academia, civil society organizations (CSOs), traditional institutions, the media, and other key stakeholders.
In his opening remarks, the state PACE FCDO Team Lead, Malam Auwalu Hamza, explained that the session was designed to reflect on lessons learned from recent local government reform initiatives especially in planning, budgeting, and service delivery.
“We look forward to the larger society benefitting from these reforms at the grassroots level,”
He added that the session would promote dialogue among stakeholders, identify gaps, align expectations, and strengthen collective ownership of these reforms toward actionable next steps across all 44 LGAs.
In a presentation titled “Overview of Supported Initiatives and Progress to Date,” the Director of Planning Ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Malam Garba Bello, commended FCDO PACE’s collaboration and support, resulted in the upgrade to a unified 52-digit chart of accounts for LGAs.
“More capacity building is needed for LG staff and ministry personnel in governance and climate change,” Bello noted,
He urged PACE and other partners to help consolidate quarterly LGA performance reports for continuous progress.
The session featured robust stakeholder dialogue sessions where participants shared experiences, discussed reform lessons, and examined the adoption of the universal chart of accounts and local development plans.
Group exercises were also conducted to identify existing gaps, constraints, and opportunities, and to co-develop a practical roadmap to institutionalize sustainable improvements across all LGAs.
KANO FOCUS reports that the event themed “Stakeholders’ Reflection & Dialogue Session: Local Governance Reforms in Kano State” was organised by MfLGCA and FCDO PACE to enhance local governance and encourage community-driven service delivery reforms.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday received a delegation from the Association of Kano Business Community at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a thank-you visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
KANO FOCUS reports that the delegation expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support to traders and other victims affected by the recent fire incident that razed several sections of the popular Singer Market in Kano.
Speaking during the meeting, the Vice President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to collaborating with the Kano State Government and relevant agencies to prevent a recurrence of fire outbreaks in markets across the state.
He assured the delegation that President Tinubu has the interests of Kano people at heart, noting that the N5 billion approved as immediate relief for victims was based on the findings of a preliminary assessment of the damage caused by the inferno.
Shettima reiterated that the Federal Government would continue to support efforts aimed at restoring commercial activities and strengthening safety measures in markets to protect lives and property.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has inaugurated a 23-member committee to oversee the transparent and equitable distribution of financial assistance and relief materials to victims of the recent Singer Market fire disaster.
KANO FOCUS reports that the inauguration was carried out on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Faruq Ibrahim, who chairs the committee. The event was presided over by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude.
According to the Attorney-General, the committee comprises representatives from key government agencies, security services, the Kano Emirate Council, religious leaders, and affected traders.
He said the panel’s mandate includes assessing the extent of losses, verifying genuine victims, ensuring timely distribution of support, and recommending measures to prevent future fire incidents.
The intervention follows support approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as contributions from the APC Governors Forum. It also comes in addition to earlier assistance provided by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting victims of the disaster and restoring commercial activities at Singer Market.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has announced Saturday, March 1, 2026, as the commencement date for the Eid-el-Fitr break for all public and private primary and post-primary schools in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the announcement, contained in the approved 2025/2026 academic calendar, applies to both day and boarding schools across the state.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Enlightenment, Musbahu Aminu Yakasai, parents and guardians of pupils and students in boarding schools are expected to convey their wards home by the early hours of Friday, February 28, 2026.
The statement further explained that boarding school students are to resume on Sunday, March 22, 2026, while day students are to resume on Monday, March 23, 2026.
It added that the second term will continue from Sunday, March 22, 2026, and end on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
The government directed all public and private schools in the state to comply strictly with the directive, warning that non-compliance would be treated as a breach of government instructions.
The Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, urged parents and guardians to ensure full compliance with the approved resumption dates.
He appreciated parents and residents of the state for their continued cooperation and support to the ministry, and wished pupils and students a successful completion of the Ramadan fast and hitch-free Sallah celebrations.
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