Kano State Govt. Cuts Spending On Hajj, Reduces Operational Staff

Kano state government has approved the sum of N789, 544, 497.67 for the state Pilgrims Welfare Board for successful conduct of 2016 Hajj operations.

Briefing pressmen on the outcome of State Executive Council meeting held at Kano Government House on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Information, Youth and Culture, Muhammad Garba said the amount is meant for operational expenditure and other related logistics.

The Commissioner remarked that as a result of national austerity measures and devaluation of the Naira, the state government has reduced its Hajj operation staff from 80 to 40 while supporting staff were scaled down from 175 to 99 personnel.

He added that hitherto, 10 members of the board members of the agency used to be sponsored for Hajj explaining that the number has now being reduced to four, noting out that many states of the federation have withdrawn support to prospective pilgrims due to economic challenges facing the nation.

Also affected by the rationalization in the state Hajj contingent, according to Comrade Garba, are the medical team from 21 to 13, Hajj training facilitators minimized to 10 from 21, Hajj Tribunal from 10 to three, adding that the number of pressmen and Hisbah Guards was also reduced from seven and 10 to five respectively.

The commissioner further said that the council approved N56, 567,233 for the Ministry of Education to construct additional classrooms and hostels in five Tsangaya Model Schools, noting that the schools to benefit are at Doguwa, Tsanyawa, Dandishe, Garo and Harbau towns.

He explained the programme was initiated by immediate past federal government and continued by present one, reiterating that because the state government has the highest number of Tsangaya schools, it would not allow the project to suffer.

The Commissioner also said that approval was granted in the tune of N136, 558,100 for the payment of outstanding balance in respect of students studying at American University, Yola Adamawa state, assuring parents and students that present administration would not let the studies to be truncated either within or outside the country.