The Kwankwasiyya Movement has criticised the decision of the Kano State Government to dissolve the Ministry of Higher Education and merge it with the Ministry of Education, describing the action as politically motivated and a sign of declining focus on governance.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Spokesperson of the movement, Dr. Habibu Sale Mohammed, said the justification of administrative reform offered by the government does not reflect the true motivations behind the decision.
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“The dissolution of the Ministry of Higher Education under the pretext of administrative restructuring raises serious concerns about the government’s priorities and commitment to responsible governance,” Mohammed said.
He argued that the decision appears linked to ongoing political tensions surrounding the state’s deputy governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, who had been overseeing the ministry.
“It is difficult to ignore the growing perception that this action is aimed at punishing the deputy governor for refusing to abandon the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the aspirations of the supporters who brought this administration to power,” Mohammed stated.
According to the movement, the ministry had already been weakened over the past year through administrative directives that redirected several agencies and functions under it to report directly to the governor.
“For more than a year, agencies and sub-units that ordinarily fall under the Ministry of Higher Education were instructed to report elsewhere, while key responsibilities were reassigned to advisers and special committees,” Mohammed said.
He added that dissolving the ministry entirely confirms fears that governance in the state is increasingly being shaped by political calculations rather than public interest.
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“If there were concerns about who should supervise the ministry, the governor could simply have reassigned that responsibility and appointed another commissioner. Scrapping a strategic ministry is not the solution,” he said.
The movement also expressed concern that the decision comes at a time when several key commissioner positions in the state government remain unfilled.
“A government that leaves critical portfolios vacant while dismantling an important ministry cannot convincingly argue that it is prioritising development,” Mohammed said.
He emphasised that higher education remains central to the development of Kano, warning that reforms in the sector should be driven by clear policy objectives rather than political considerations.
“Universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and scholarship programmes require coordinated leadership and long-term planning. Decisions affecting them must be guided by vision and consultation,” he said.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement therefore urged the state government to reconsider actions that may appear vindictive and instead focus on policies that advance stability and development.
“Kano deserves leadership that places the long-term interests of the people above temporary political manoeuvres,” the statement added.
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Recall that Governor Yusuf had on Sunday approved the merger of the Ministry of Higher Education with the Ministry of Education in what he described as a decisive step to strengthen coordination and accelerate reforms in Kano State’s education sector.
Following the restructuring, the new entity will operate as the Ministry of Education, with a specialized Directorate of Higher Education established within the ministry to oversee tertiary education activities.
