The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin (APC, Kano North), to provide a legal framework for the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano, Kano State.

The bill was passed during plenary presided over by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON. It seeks to provide the statutory foundation for the effective management and administration of the institution.

Recall that in September 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the conversion of the Federal Colleges of Education in Kano and Zaria into federal universities of education.

Following Senator Barau’s request on behalf of the people of Kano, President Tinubu, on May 10, 2025, also approved the renaming of the institution as the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano.

To give the institution a legal framework, Senator Barau sponsored the bill, which passed through the legislative process and was approved by the Senate for second and third readings. The bill scaled first reading on Wednesday, March 25, 2025.

While leading the debate on the bill, Senator Barau said the legislation was necessary to give legal backing to the institution.

He commended President Tinubu for approving the institution’s upgrade and renaming, explaining that the bill would provide a legal framework for the promotion and development of teacher education and make comprehensive provisions for the university’s management and administration.

He said: “Mr Senate President, this institution has already been established by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“You may recall, my colleagues, that in the last Senate, I made efforts to facilitate the establishment of these institutions, including the Federal College of Education, Zaria, which was to be upgraded to a full-fledged university, as well as Alvan Ikoku College of Education and Adeyemi College of Education. The bills were passed and transmitted to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, but they were not assented to.

“When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, I approached him and conveyed the desire of my people to have the Federal College of Education, Kano, upgraded to a full-fledged university. He assured me that, since it was the request of the people, it would be done. The President subsequently approved the upgrade of the institution.

“But we were not done yet. At the request of my people, I returned to the President to seek approval for the institution to be named after the late Yusuf Maitama Sule. The President immediately approved the request. Today, the institution is a full-fledged university offering degrees in various fields of education.

” We cannot thank Mr President enough. He loves Kano and has consistently acceded to our requests. Beyond this institution, he has also approved the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology in Kabo and the Federal Polytechnic in Rano. We cannot thank him enough for these interventions.”

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Senator Barau for sponsoring the bill and thanked senators for supporting its swift passage.

He expressed optimism that President Tinubu would assent to the bill upon its transmission to him, thereby providing the university with the necessary statutory and regulatory framework to fulfil its mandate and continue contributing to national development.

Signed:
Ismail Mudashir
Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate
(Media and Publicity)
October 13, 2026

The ruling All Progressive Congress, APC London chapter has conferred an award of honour, on Kano state governor, Eng Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The chairman APC UK , London Branch, Hon Tunde Doherty , at the pageant presentation ceremony held at Double Tree By Hilton London, said the award was conferred on governor Yusuf in recognition of his contributions to the development of the party at the grass root levels.

He added that , the sterling leadership qualities of the recipient and his style of democratic governance were exemplarity saying this resulted to his been nominated by members of the UK branch of the party to be conferred with the award .

The Special Adviser on Youth and Sports Development to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Sani Musa Danja .expressed profound appreciation to the APC UK leadership for the honour, bestowed on the governor, describing it as a clear testimony to the contributions of governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the growth of the party across board.

He stated that , the awardee has continued to champion the values of unity, service, development and progress within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, Governor Yusuf has been an evangelist of the importance of strengthening relationships between party members and supporters in Nigeria and the diaspora.

Danja said that the award was earned owing to the sacrifices of the people of Kano State, alongside those working towards a united, prosperous and progressive Nigeria.

He commended Hon. Tunde Doherty and the APC UK leadership for promoting party solidarity and strengthening political engagements within the Nigerian diaspora community.

Danja conveyed the Governor’s appreciation to the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom for remaining actively connected to Nigeria’s political and developmental aspirations.

He affirmed that Kano State Government under the leadership of Abba Kabir Yusuf has remained focus towards its commitment to youth empowerment, sports development, creating economic opportunities and pursuing the general wellbeing of the good people of Kano.

Our correspondent reports that , the occasion also featured the inauguration of the Tinubu Must Stay Organisation, UK Chapter, marking another step in organising the supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the United Kingdom and strengthening diaspora engagement in their support of the President’s leadership and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

The Kano State Government says it has intensified monitoring and evaluation of public projects across six local government areas, with 106 projects valued at approximately ₦48.91 billion assessed during routine inspections in September 2026.

The Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Nura Iro Maaji, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kano on the findings of the ministry’s monitoring exercises, which covered Kabo, Dawakin Tofa, Tofa, Shanono, Gwarzo and Bagwai local government areas.

Maaji said the inspections were designed to assess the physical progress of government-funded projects, examine the quality of executed works, identify implementation challenges and determine the extent to which public investments were delivering benefits to residents.

According to the commissioner, the monitoring exercise formed part of the commitment of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to transparency, accountability and improved service delivery across Kano State.

He explained that the monitoring teams comprised professionals and technical officers from the ministry, supported by its media team, who visited project sites to evaluate construction works and assess the condition and functionality of public facilities.

The commissioner said the projects inspected covered roads, classroom construction and renovation, healthcare facilities, neighbourhood security divisional offices, solar-powered streetlighting, drainage systems, water supply and other essential infrastructure.

Maaji stressed that government projects should not be assessed solely on the basis of contract awards, adding that their quality, functionality, sustainability and measurable benefits to communities were equally important.

80 Projects Recorded at 100 Per Cent Progress

Providing a breakdown of the monitoring findings, Maaji said 80 of the 106 project entries, representing approximately 75.5 per cent, were recorded as having attained 100 per cent physical progress.

He said another 20 projects were at various stages of implementation, while six had recently been awarded, bringing the total number of project entries covered by the six local government schedules to 106.

The commissioner, however, emphasised that the ministry would continue to conduct follow-up inspections to establish compliance with contractual obligations, verify the quality of work and ensure that outstanding issues were addressed before projects were formally closed out.

According to the project schedules accompanying the monitoring report, the 106 entries had a reconstructed aggregate contract value of ₦48,910,349,389.07, or approximately ₦48.91 billion.

The figures represent entries in the monitoring schedules and physical progress recorded during the inspections; they do not, by themselves, constitute independently verified completion certificates for all projects listed as 100 per cent complete.

Kabo Records Highest Project Value

A comparison of the six local government areas showed that Kabo had 15 project entries valued at approximately ₦15.52 billion, the highest aggregate value among the areas covered by the exercise.

The monitoring schedules recorded 12 of the Kabo projects as having reached 100 per cent physical progress, while two were ongoing and one had recently been awarded.

In Dawakin Tofa, the ministry assessed 16 project entries valued at approximately ₦11.16 billion, with 12 recorded at 100 per cent completion, three ongoing and one recently awarded.

Tofa had 15 project entries valued at approximately ₦3.14 billion, of which 12 were recorded at 100 per cent physical progress and three were ongoing, according to the schedules.

Shanono accounted for 21 project entries valued at approximately ₦7 billion, with 14 recorded at 100 per cent progress, four ongoing and three recently awarded.

In Gwarzo, the monitoring schedules contained 23 project entries valued at approximately ₦6.08 billion, with 21 recorded at 100 per cent physical progress and two ongoing.

Bagwai had 16 project entries valued at approximately ₦6.01 billion, comprising nine recorded at 100 per cent progress, six ongoing and one recently awarded.

Major Road Projects Require Further Monitoring

Despite the progress recorded in several areas, the monitoring report identified a number of major road projects that remained under construction and would require further assessment.

The report placed the Janguza–Durum–Kabo–Karaye road corridor in Kabo at 48 per cent physical progress, while the Hawan Ganji–Badari–Kadere road in Gwarzo was recorded at 67 per cent.

Similarly, the five-kilometre road project in Shanono was recorded at 65 per cent physical progress, according to the monitoring schedules.

The commissioner said the ministry would continue to engage implementing agencies and contractors to address delays, incomplete works and quality concerns, with follow-up inspections expected to focus on compliance with project specifications and agreed implementation milestones.

Maaji also said the ministry would apply corrective measures where necessary and pursue further technical reviews to ensure that public funds translated into infrastructure that met the required standards.

Education Projects Show Mixed Progress

On educational infrastructure, the commissioner said investments in classroom construction, school renovations, furniture and sanitation facilities were intended to improve learning environments and support access to quality education across the state.

However, the monitoring schedules showed varying levels of progress among some education projects, including classrooms at Government Junior Secondary School, Badau, in Bagwai, which were recorded at 55 per cent completion.

The report also placed the GAA/GGSS Badau project at 16 per cent physical progress, while the Government Technical College project in Gwarzo was recorded at 72 per cent.

Maaji said the ministry would continue to monitor such projects and work with the relevant implementing agencies to address delays and ensure that construction and rehabilitation works were completed in accordance with approved specifications.

He added that the government’s investment in schools and related facilities must produce tangible improvements for students and communities rather than remain limited to expenditure on contracts.

Security, Streetlighting and Healthcare Facilities

The monitoring exercise also covered neighbourhood security facilities, solar-powered streetlighting, healthcare infrastructure and water supply projects across the six local government areas.

According to the report, neighbourhood security divisional offices in several areas were recorded at 100 per cent physical progress, while the corresponding project in Dawakin Tofa stood at 85 per cent.

The report further indicated that solar streetlighting projects in Bagwai and Shanono were at 35 per cent progress, while the project monitored in Kabo was recorded at 100 per cent.

In the health sector, the rehabilitation of Shanono Primary Health Centre was recorded at 84 per cent physical progress, while a hand-pump borehole project in the area was listed as completed.

Maaji said investments in healthcare, water supply, rural electrification and security infrastructure were important to public welfare, community safety and improved living conditions.

He explained that the ministry would continue to assess the quality and functionality of such facilities to ensure that they served their intended purposes and provided lasting benefits to residents.

Kano Introduces Digital Project Monitoring System

Beyond physical inspections, Maaji announced that the ministry was strengthening project oversight through a digital initiative under the Kano State Integrated Project Monitoring System, accessible at kanoprocurement.ng.

He said the system was intended to improve the organisation of project information, geographical tracking, visibility and reporting of implementation progress, while allowing field evidence to inform management decisions.

According to him, the ministry would continue to improve the completeness and reliability of project data and strengthen follow-up reporting as part of efforts to make monitoring more effective.

Maaji said the use of digital tools would enable the government to improve access to information about public projects and strengthen its ability to identify implementation challenges and take appropriate action.

Digital Procurement Platform Goes Live

The commissioner also announced that the Kano State Digital Public Procurement Platform had gone live at procurement.kn.gov.ng, describing the initiative as an important step towards improving transparency and accountability in public procurement.

He said the platform was designed to promote structured and traceable procurement processes, improve planning and documentation, strengthen audit trails, widen access to procurement opportunities and reduce administrative bottlenecks.

Maaji added that the initiative was also expected to support more efficient procurement processes and improve value for money in government spending.

He said the reform was intended to support the objectives of the Kano State Public Procurement Law, 2021, but stressed that its effectiveness would depend on adoption by the 10 pilot ministries, departments and agencies, sustained capacity development and compliance with applicable regulations.

The commissioner maintained that digital infrastructure alone could not guarantee accountability, noting that effective implementation, proper documentation and adherence to established procedures remained essential to achieving the desired results.

Government to Extend Monitoring Across 44 LGAs

Maaji said the ministry’s priorities included sustaining routine and follow-up monitoring across all 44 local government areas in Kano State and engaging implementing agencies and contractors to resolve delays and incomplete projects.

He added that the government would strengthen project data management and geographical reporting through the Integrated Project Monitoring System while supporting the gradual adoption of the digital procurement platform.

According to him, the ministry would also prioritise quality assurance, procurement compliance and demonstrable value for money in the execution of public projects.

Maaji further announced plans to sustain evidence-based public communication and transparent reporting of monitoring findings through town hall meetings across the state’s 44 local government areas.

He called on implementing agencies, contractors, professional bodies, civil society organisations, the media and members of the public to support the government’s efforts to improve project monitoring and public accountability.

The commissioner commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his leadership and acknowledged the contributions of the ministry’s technical officers and media team to the monitoring exercise.

He said the ministry remained committed to ensuring that monitoring served as a practical instrument for accountability and improved service delivery.

Maaji said every public project must be accounted for, every public investment justified and every public resource translated into meaningful benefits for the people of Kano State, with measurable value for money.