The Kwankwasiyya Movement has questioned the Kano State Government’s reported plan to contain the 44 native authorities councils in a proposed ₦55 billion mortgage, demanding explanations on the aim of the borrowing, undertaking prices and reimbursement preparations.
The motion’s spokesperson, Dr Habibu Sale Mohammed, raised the issues in a press release issued on Sunday, October 18, 2026, saying every council might be required to tackle a monetary obligation of about ₦1.3 billion.
According to the assertion, the funds would reportedly be used to determine Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centres, execute an unspecified undertaking and finance an empowerment programme.
While acknowledging the significance of academic infrastructure and financial empowerment, the motion questioned why native governments ought to incur substantial money owed for tasks reportedly to be administered by the state authorities.
“Our fundamental question is: Why should the 44 Local Government Councils be compelled to assume substantial debt obligations for projects reportedly to be administered by the State Government?” the assertion queried.
The motion additionally demanded an evidence for the timing of the proposed borrowing, asking the federal government to exhibit why the tasks couldn’t be funded by means of present budgetary provisions and obtainable public income.
It mentioned the approaching electoral cycle made transparency and safeguards essential to make sure that the funds had been used completely for authorized public tasks.
“We are not alleging that the proposed loan is intended to finance an election,” the assertion clarified, including that “public borrowing must be driven by demonstrable development needs, not electoral considerations or political convenience.”
The group mentioned the reported breakdown included about ₦632.57 million per council for a CBT centre, ₦500 million for an unspecified undertaking and ₦117.41 million for an empowerment programme.
It known as for particulars of the tasks, together with the areas of the CBT centres, feasibility research, price assessments and the factors for choosing beneficiaries of the empowerment initiative.
The motion additionally demanded an account of funds reportedly contributed or launched by native authorities councils to the state authorities beneath a earlier joint empowerment programme, notably the month-to-month girls’s empowerment initiative.
It requested the federal government to reveal the full quantity obtained from the councils, the quantity disbursed to beneficiaries, administrative bills and any remaining steadiness.
The assertion additional questioned why the programme reportedly operated for fewer than 10 months regardless of expectations of its continuation.
“Before the councils are asked to incur fresh debts for another empowerment programme, the government must account for the previous funds and explain the status of the initiative,” it mentioned.
The motion additionally urged the Kano State House of Assembly to make clear whether or not it had formally authorized or authorised the proposed association and publish the related legislative decision and supporting paperwork.
It appealed to the business financial institution reportedly contemplating the ability to confirm the borrowing authority of every council, the legality of the proposed safety preparations, reimbursement capability and the supposed use of the funds.
The assertion mentioned the financial institution ought to be sure that the transaction complied with relevant legal guidelines and had safeguards in opposition to diversion of public funds.
Citing the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on native authorities monetary autonomy, the motion known as for an unbiased authorized evaluation to find out whether or not the proposed association complied with the Constitution, relevant legal guidelines and public borrowing rules.
It warned that native authorities chairmen shouldn’t be diminished to signing monetary obligations for tasks whose proceeds they don’t management, notably if repayments might undermine their capacity to offer important providers.
“The people of Kano State deserve to know why their Local Government Councils are being asked to assume substantial debts, who will control the proceeds, what benefits the projects will deliver and how the obligations will be repaid,” the assertion mentioned.
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