The Kwankwasiyya Movement has tackled Kano state government over alleged zero capital spending on mass education, two years after the declaration of state-of-emergency on compulsory and basic education for Kano children.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement expressed concern over what it described as gaps in the implementation of Kano State’s mass-education budget, challenging Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to explain how his administration’s declaration of a state-of-emergency in education and its ‘Kano First’ philosophy are translating into measurable benefits for the people of Kano State.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement, in a statement by its spokesperson, Dr. Habibu Sale Mohammed, recalled that on 8 June 2024, the Kano State Government declared a state of emergency in the education sector, promising urgent interventions to address the state’s longstanding educational challenges.
Mohammed said the declaration raised public expectations that education would receive the attention, funding and sustained implementation required to reverse years of educational disadvantage.
But he regretted that, ‘an investigative report published by The Whistler on 25 October 2026 has raised serious questions about the implementation of the budget of the Kano State Agency for Mass Education.
‘According to the report’s analysis of budget documents, the agency had a capital allocation of ?1.4 billion for 2026 but recorded zero capital expenditure between January and June 2026. The report further stated that only ?37 million was released from the agency’s ?716 million capital allocation in 2025.’
Mohammed insisted that these reported figures demand a clear, documented and timely explanation from the Kano State 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 Agency for Mass Education has an important responsibility in expanding educational opportunities for people who have been excluded from the formal school system. Consequently, the reported absence of capital expenditure during the first half of the year raises legitimate questions about budget releases, project implementation and the delivery of the agency’s mandate.
‘We acknowledge that an expenditure report, on its own, does not establish that funds were diverted or misappropriated. Nevertheless, the reported gap between budgetary provision and recorded expenditure warrants immediate scrutiny and a transparent response from the relevant authorities,’ he added.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement further challenged Kano state government to demonstrate how its ‘Kano First’ philosophy is reflected in the management of public resources and the delivery of essential services.
‘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 in budgetary priorities and implementation.
‘How does the government reconcile its ‘Kano First’ slogan and its declaration of a state of emergency in education with the reported absence of capital expenditure by the State Agency for Mass Education during the first half of 2026, despite an approved capital allocation of ?1.4 billion?
‘This is not merely a question of accounting. It is a question of priorities, public responsibility and the practical meaning of government policy,’ Mohammed stated.
According to him, ‘a budget allocation is not a public achievement until the funds are appropriately released, projects are implemented and intended beneficiaries receive the services for which the money was provided.
‘We therefore challenge Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to demonstrate, with verifiable evidence, how the ‘Kano First’ philosophy is improving educational opportunities and addressing the state’s literacy challenges.’
The Kwankwasiyya Movement demanded to know: ‘how much of the agency’s ?1.4 billion capital allocation had actually been released as of 30 June 2026, and why did the reported budget analysis record zero capital expenditure during that period?
‘What explains the reported release of only ?37 million from the agency’s ?716 million capital allocation in 2025? What corrective measures were introduced to prevent a recurrence in 2026?
‘What capital projects and mass-education programmes were approved for 2026? How many have commenced or been completed, and how many children, adults and young people have benefited from the agency’s interventions?
‘What targets were established following the June 2024 declaration? What progress has been achieved against those targets, particularly in literacy, vocational education and access to learning for disadvantaged communities?
‘What specific commitments, funding decisions and implementation measures demonstrate that mass education and the needs of vulnerable learners are being prioritised? What timetable has the government established to address any identified gaps?’
The Kwankwasiyya Movement further insisted that Kano’s educational challenges require sustained commitment, credible planning and effective implementation.
‘The declaration of an emergency should provide the foundation for measurable improvements, not become a substitute for demonstrating them.
‘Mass education is particularly important because it provides opportunities for adults who missed formal schooling, young people seeking vocational skills and disadvantaged residents who need alternative routes to learning and economic participation.
‘When funding intended for these purposes is not reflected in recorded expenditure, the government must explain whether the problem involves delayed releases, procurement difficulties, implementation failures or other administrative factors. The explanation should be accompanied by documentary evidence and a credible plan for addressing any shortcomings.
‘If the reported figures are inaccurate, the government should publish the relevant official records and correct them. If the figures are accurate, the government should explain the reasons for the gap, identify the measures taken to address it and provide a timetable for delivering the planned programmes.
‘That is the standard of accountability expected of any administration that places the interests of its people first.
‘Kano First must mean that Kano’s children come first, its young people come first, its vulnerable citizens come first and its public resources are managed in the interest of its people.
‘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 Kwankwasiyya Movement will continue to advocate transparency, responsible governance and the effective delivery of public services in the interest of the people of Kano State,’ Mohammed stated.