Kano: Emergency declaration on education yet to translate to results – Kwankwasiyya Movement

The group said this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Dr. Habibu Sale Mohammed, on Monday, in reaction to an investigative report on the spending of the Kano State Agency for Mass Education.

It will be recalled that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf declared a state of emergency in the education sector on 8 June 2024, with a promise to urgently address challenges facing education in the state.

According to the movement, that declaration raised expectations among residents that education would receive more funding and attention.

The movement, citing the report’s analysis of budget documents, said the agency had a capital allocation of N1.4 billion for 2026, but recorded zero capital expenditure between January and June 2026.

It also said only N37 million was released from the agency’s N716 million capital allocation in 2025.

The Kwankwasiyya Movement said the figures, if accurate, require a clear explanation from the government.

“The central question is straightforward: What has the declaration of a state of emergency in education achieved for the millions of Kano residents who need access to literacy programmes, vocational training and alternative educational opportunities?” the statement said.

The group noted that the Agency for Mass Education plays a key role in providing learning opportunities for people outside the formal school system, including adults who missed school and young people who need vocational skills.

It added that an expenditure report alone does not prove that funds were diverted, but said the gap between what was budgeted and what was spent needs to be explained.

The movement also challenged the government’s “Kano First” philosophy, asking how it reflects in the delivery of essential services like education.

“If Kano truly comes first, then the education of its children, the literacy of its adults, the skills of its young people and the future of its vulnerable communities must come first,” the group said.

“Kano First must be measured by results, not rhetoric; by opportunities created, not promises made.”

The group asked the Kano State Government to explain how much of the N1.4 billion for 2026 had been released as of June, why the report showed zero spending, what caused the limited releases in 2025, and what projects have actually been implemented.

It also asked the government to publish official records if the reported figures are inaccurate, or provide reasons and a plan to fix the gaps if they are accurate.

“The people of Kano deserve more than declarations of emergency and slogans of priority. They deserve transparent budgets, effective implementation and measurable improvements in their lives,” the statement added.