The Kano State authorities has directed every of the native authorities areas to contribute N15.2 million—totalling N670 million—for the refurbishment and buy of latest autos for Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II. The directive which was first made public by a leaked memo has been producing reactions throughout the state, Day by day Belief reviews.

Talking on the matter yesterday, the state authorities by its Commissioner for Info, Ibrahim Waiya, defended the directive, insisting it was a routine administrative train with clear precedent.

The official correspondence, dated March 25, instructed the 44 native authorities councils within the state to offer funds for the Kano Emirate Council.

The doc, which went viral, acknowledged that the contributions could be deducted instantly from the State/Native Authorities Joint Account and paid to Sottom Synergy Assets Ltd, a personal firm contracted to produce the autos and refurbish older ones.

The contract contains the provision of 4 new autos and the refurbishment of two classic fashions. The memo, titled Conveyance of Approval for the Launch of Funds, was signed by Abubakar S. Dabo, Director of Native Authorities Inspection, on behalf of the Commissioner for Native Authorities Affairs.

“I’m directed to convey authorities’s approval for the discharge of the combination sum of N15,227,272.72 per LGA… to restore 2 No. autos and provide 4 No. autos to the Kano Emirate Council by Sottom Synergy Assets Ltd,” the letter acknowledged.

In response to the breakdown, the N670 million allocation covers the restoration of a 1969 Rolls Royce (DH 420) at N25 million, a 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine additionally at N25 million, and the acquisition of 4 new autos: a Toyota Land Cruiser VXR (2024 mannequin) for N268 million, a Toyota Prado (2024) for N156 million, a Toyota Hilux (2024) for N98 million, and a Toyota Hiace Bus (2024) additionally for N98 million.

The memo additionally instructed all LGA chairpersons to make sure due course of within the implementation of the challenge.

Criticism over spending priorities

The directive has ignited public outrage, notably on social media, with many Nigerians questioning the federal government’s priorities amid deteriorating infrastructure and social companies on the native authorities degree.

An X (previously Twitter) person, @UncleAnass, wrote: “The issue with this buy of N670 million automobiles for Kano Emirate Council is NOT simply the outrageous quantity, however the truth that native governments are compelled to make a contribution.

“Let Gov Abba use state assets to purchase the automobiles for the emirate if he thinks that’s a precedence. However asking every native authorities to contribute N15 million for that goal is unjustifiable.

“These native governments are affected by dilapidated hospitals and faculties, lack of potable water provide, and insufficient infrastructure, but we faucet from their hard-earned assets to fund our lavish way of life.”

His considerations had been echoed by many others who criticised the transfer after Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a media aide to ex-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, posted a photograph of the memo with the caption: “Every of the 44 Native Govts in Kano will cough out N15.2Mil totalling N670Mil to Kano Emirate Council underneath the management of the plenty emir SLS, for the restore and buy of autos for his Excessive Highness, by the Kano State Govt. Gwamnatin talakawa certainly!”

Kano govt defends transfer, says Shekarau, Ganduje did similar

In response to the criticism, Kano State Commissioner for Info, Ibrahim Waiya, defended the directive, saying, “It is a routine train—there’s nothing new about it. It occurs once in a while in each authorities. So, what’s the massive deal?” Waiya instructed Day by day Belief.

“Sure, the emirate operates underneath the federal government, and it’s the authorities that gives all obligatory assist for its administration, funded by native authorities assets. This isn’t unprecedented.

“For instance, throughout Shekarau’s administration, about 54 autos had been bought for all district heads. Equally, underneath Ganduje’s administration, autos had been purchased for newly created emirates. So once more, what’s the problem?”

He argued that emirate councils don’t have any impartial sources of income and rely solely on authorities assist.

“These autos are supposed strictly for administrative capabilities. They’re not for private use by the Emir. They belong to the Emirate Council, and by extension, the state authorities.”

Waiya additionally cited a coverage launched underneath the Abacha regime mandating that 3% of native authorities income be allotted for conventional establishments—a provision, he stated, Kano has continued to honour.

On whether or not the timing was acceptable given the financial local weather, Waiya stated: “It’s not insensitive in any approach. Many of the autos utilized by the Emir are outdated, and that’s why a big a part of the finances is for refurbishment. The federal government has tried to judiciously spend the cash.”

He added that the administration not too long ago paid severance allowances to former councillors, asking rhetorically: “Is that additionally reckless spending?”

Like Kebbi, like Kano?

The event has drawn comparisons with an analogous controversy in Kebbi State, the place Governor Nasir Idris confronted public backlash in October 2024, for gifting brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs to the state’s 4 first-class emirs.

Civil society teams and residents criticised the gesture as tone-deaf amid financial hardship and widespread poverty. Additional outrage adopted revelations that comparable luxurious autos had been distributed to lawmakers, commissioners and different senior officers utilizing public funds.

Critics argued that, whereas the intent might have been to honour conventional rulers, the timing and scale of the gesture had been inappropriate. In addition they questioned why state assets weren’t used extra prudently or redirected to urgent public wants.

It’s a breach of the rule of legislation – Dr Hayatu

Dr Aminu Hayatu, a senior lecturer in political science at Bayero College, Kano, argued that the directive may represent a breach of the rule of legislation.

“This isn’t nearly public notion—it’s a authorized difficulty. If governors usually are not permitted to entry native authorities funds unilaterally, then this directive undermines constitutional provisions,” he stated.

Dr Hayatu pointed to the current Supreme Courtroom judgment reaffirming monetary autonomy for native governments, warning that bypassing correct procedures erodes democratic governance and units a harmful precedent.

“If native governments had been allowed to deliberate and voluntarily approve such contributions by correctly constituted councils that might have upheld due course of. However this appears extra like compulsion than consensus,” he stated.

He added that such interference contributes to native authorities underperformance, as councils can declare insufficient funding as justification for poor service supply.

“Finally, the follow of overriding native authorities weakens Nigeria’s federal construction. If unchecked, it may embolden different state governments to observe swimsuit, additional eroding institutional integrity,” he added.

It’s a peak of insensitivity – Ganduje’s aide

Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a media aide to Ganduje, described the federal government’s determination as “the peak of insensitivity and hypocrisy.”

Chatting with Day by day Belief, Yakasai, who additionally served as Director-Normal of Media and Communications throughout Ganduje’s tenure, criticised the federal government for what he known as misplaced priorities.

“When Ganduje created new emirates and purchased autos, they criticised it. Now they’re doing the identical—and worse—underneath the guise of administrative necessity.

“The state is experiencing its worst water disaster in historical past, but this authorities chooses to purchase new automobiles for the Emir. It’s not an emergency. The autos in use are nonetheless practical,” he stated.

Yakasai additionally questioned why the funding got here from native governments quite than the state authorities or the Emirate Council itself.

“The Emir, who manufacturers himself as pro-masses, ought to have requested that the cash be redirected to offering water and fundamental facilities for the individuals. That may align together with his public picture,” he added.

Directive ill-timed and counterproductive – Prof Fage

Famend political analyst, Professor Kamilu Sani Fage, additionally criticised the transfer, calling it ill-timed and a blow to efforts to advertise native authorities autonomy.

“You can’t say it is a people-oriented precedence. The federal government ought to have centered on initiatives that instantly affect residents, particularly throughout such financial hardship,” he stated.

Fage, a former vice chairman of the Nigerian Political Science Affiliation, added that, “the timing is problematic. The Supreme Courtroom has not too long ago reaffirmed native authorities autonomy, and this directive undermines that precept. It’s a distraction and creates pointless pressure.”

Supply: Day by day TrustDaily Belief