Shekarau administration at 3: How far?
By Sule Yau Sule
The Ibrahim Shekarau’s administration left admirers and critics gasping for breathe during the holiday period with a comprehensive sectoral review of its performance in the past four years during a retreat for some of its officials. It has been close to four years of breathtaking reengineering, attitudinal rebirth and refocusing of government to serve the majority of the people. The occasion of the retreat, Malam said, is “one for critical appraisal, self-assessment and for renewing commitment to the course we set for ourselves as leaders of the people”.
The Shekarau administration has completely revolutionalised the business of governance in Kano, unleashing change indices and consigning the old order to the background. Gone are financial recklessness, insensitivity, poor service delivery and the imperial haughtiness of those in power which widened the gap between the government and the people, resulting in the loss of people’s confidence in their leaders.
Restoring Kano people’s faith in leadership and trust in public service have been the cardinal objectives of Malam’s Administration. For close to four years, Kano has witnessed massive development in socio-economic infrastructure. Perhaps more important than that Malam has introduced frugality, transparency and integrity in the management of public resources, which invariably distresses beneficiaries of the Old Order but gladdens the hearts of the silent majority.
Present at the retreat were the governor and principal officers of his administration. Venues was the Confluence Motel, Lokoja, far away from home, to screen away unwanted interference and press home the solemnity of the event. It was a no-holds-barred conference, there were no no-go areas, all aspects of the administration’s popular policies and programmes were critically examined.
In scope and depth, the Shekarau’s administration has made indelible mark in the lives of the people and exceeded expectations in many others. Judging from its 10-point policy priority adopted at the commencement retreat, the administration has succeeded in restoring faith in government, ensured due process, maintained security, empowered the people and invested in physical and human development.
Education, Health Agriculture, Employment, Sharia Implementation, Security, Water Supply, Roads Reconstruction, Rural Development, Women Empowerment, Human Resource Development and Attitudinal Change have been the cardinal programmes on which the Shekarau administration has wrapped its activities.
The education sector is receiving a massive investment aimed at revitalizing it to play its role in building the solid foundations on which socio-economic development can be pursued. In less than four years government has constructed a total of 141 duplex classrooms, 41 complexes for the state’s Junior Secondary Schools, 12 blocks of eight classroom and repaired, renovated and furnished a total of 185 laboratories in the state to bring the quality of education in Kano to an enviable status. To further boost the morale of students and in extension of the administration’s human development focus, the Shekarau government spent over N1.5 billion in feeding its students in several boarding schools, paid for extra lessons for SSS3 students, purchased SSCE and JAMB forms for students. A total of 75,255 have since the inception of the administration in 2003 received N610 million as scholarship grants for internal and xternal studies, making the state a frontrunner in scholarship awards in the federation.
The teachers were not left out as the state government has taken up the issue of their welfare as a priority. Apart from recruiting over 4173 teachers into the state education system, 1,302 teachers received loans worth N24 million, 9000 junior teaching staff were also recruited, 226 underwent specialized training at the Administrative Staff College ascon Badagry, 1023 were registered by the Teachers Registration Council, 4729 promoted and 20 plots allocated to them at the Zawacciki Housing Estate.
One other issue that featured prominently at the Retreat was water supply. The problem of adequate water supply to Kano metropolis and its rapidly expanding adjuncts has overwhelmed efforts by previous governments. The Shekarau administration was not content with the cosmetic repairs and refitting, which have yielded poor results so far. After reviewing the complex proposals and possibilities proffered by consultants, it awarded contract for the expansion of the Tamburawa Water Works through which additional 150 million liters of water will be delivered to residents. Experts conclude that the Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant, estimated at N5.5 billion is the most ambitious in the federation and is a comprehensive answer to the Kano urban water problem. By the time it is delivered in March 2007, (God’s willing) the water needs of Kano ’s teeming population, estimated at 200 million litters per day, would be substantially addressed.
On health, the Shekarau administration has recorded milestones worthy of praise. It has revived morale which was low in 2003 through the direct recruitment of 2,300 health workers of different disciplines and levels. Government has since been commended for abolishing consultation fees at state hospitals and for introducing free ante natal care services all over the state. It has executed 112 capital projects including the purchase of Asma’u Memorial Hospital, procuring equipment and instruments at the hospital, construction of one storey block of six flats of two bedrooms each at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital to which two 500KVA generators were also provided.
On roads, the administration has to its credit the reconstruction and rehabilitation of over 24 urban roads and roundabouts which has given the city a beautiful look, making movement of people and goods much easier.
The Shekarau administration can claim credit for certain innovations in good governance and participatory democracy in so short a time.
One of the very first moves by the Shekarau administration in 2003 was the institution of a Budget and Projects Monitoring Unit to allow government determine to what extent its budgetary proposals are met, what problems were encountered and how best to address them. The centrality of budgets to good governance cannot be overestimated. Budget implementation is the hallmark of purposeful, rational and constitutional government. Citizens need not look beyond the budget making and implementation process, including monitoring and audit to assess the performance of their governments. Setting up the Budget and Project Monitoring Unit signified the intention of the Shekarau administration to play by the rules and be held accountable to financial and budgetary regulations. In the past three and half years, the state government has consolidated this due and transparent process, rendering monthly account of its earning and expenditures.
From all available record, the Shekarau administration pioneered an innovative participatory approach to governance through its discussion forum, Dandalin Tattaunawa where principal officers come face to face with the people in open forum. This forum has greatly enhanced political communication in the state. Today Kano people are better informed and are more involved in the processes of making and reviewing government programmes.
The model of Sharia implementation favoured by the administration is gradualist and rich in welfare. The emphasis is on education of the people on their obligations and attitudinal changes necessary to build a Godly society. The government has promoted the best form of welfarism through direct empowerment, feeding of indigent people during Ramadan, improving the working condition of public sector employees and working to raise the living condition of the rest of the people.
The Retreat, tagged “Consolidating 40 month’s achievements and thinking about the future of Kano state” provide a conducive time for soul searching and deeper thinking, in retroactive and proactive sub-modes. And as His Excellency rightly pointed out, Kano is a better place today than when his administration took over in 2003 because of the collective achievements of his team.

Sule Ya’u Sule is the Director of Press, Government House, Kano.