The Kaduna State government has dissolved all districts and village units created in the state from the year 2001.

The commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Jafaru Ibrahim, made this known in a press briefing in Kaduna on Sunday, text of which was sent to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr. Ibrahim said the government needs to reduce the burden that a bloated payroll imposes on local government councils, and empower the councils to be able to undertake capital projects and deliver public goods.

“The state has therefore reverted to the 77 districts and 1,429 village units that existed prior to 2001,” he said.

He explained that the new restructuring was done in consultation with the state council of chiefs.

The commissioner said the creation of 313 more districts from 2001 increased the number of district heads to 390, which along with personnel in the district office, added more than 2700 employees to the payroll of the local government councils.

He revealed that a committee set up to address the administration of districts concluded that the proliferation creates a financial burden for local government councils.

He said the state government is “happily and conscientiously supporting all the 32 emirs and chiefs in Kaduna State.


“It is the duty of the state government to pay the salaries and allowances of all the 32 chiefs. And the state government shall continue to be responsible for all our graded chiefs.”

The commissioner observed that while the state government is comfortably discharging its obligations to the 32 chiefs, the local government councils are not able to do the same for their district heads.

“Zazzau Emirate alone has 86 districts. But Kano State, with a much larger population, has only 44 districts. Katsina State too has only 33 districts,” he said.

Read the full briefing by the commissioner below.

Kaduna State Government restructures districts

The Kaduna State Government is restructuring its districts and village units. The government said that it needs to reduce the burden that a bloated payroll imposes on local government councils, and empower the councils to be able to undertake capital projects and deliver public goods. It has therefore reverted to the 77 districts and 1,429 village units that existed prior to 2001. The government said it has consulted the state Council of Chiefs which has endorsed the restructuring of districts.

Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, announced the decision today in Kaduna. The commissioner said that the creation of 313 more districts from 2001 increased the number of district heads to 390, which along with personnel in the district office, added more than 2700 employees to the payroll of the local government councils. He revealed that a committee set up to address the administration of districts concluded that he proliferation creates a financial burden for local government councils.

Alhaji Sani said the state government is “happily and conscientiously supporting all the 32 emirs and chiefs in Kaduna State. It is the duty of the state government to pay the salaries and allowances of all the 32 chiefs. And the state government shall continue to be responsible for all our graded chiefs.”

The commissioner explained that this support includes providing official vehicles which have now being purchased for distribution to the third-class chiefs and the maintenance of palaces, ten of which have recently been renovated.”

The commissioner observed that while the state government is comfortably discharging its obligations to the 32 chiefs, the local government councils are not able to do the same for their district heads. By the provision of the Local Government Administration Law (2012), it is the responsibility of the local government councils to cater for the 390 district heads.

“One of the problems this government inherited is the practical insolvency of many local government councils. Some local government councils are unable to pay their bills, especially salaries, without support from the state government. The bloated wage bills of these councils indicate that they are carrying more than they can bear. That is why for two years many local government councils were unable for two years to pay their district and village heads. Due to the Governor’s kind intervention, at least 85% of these district and village heads have now being paid two years’ salary en bloc.”

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/233728-in-major-restructuring-el-rufai-slashes-kaduna-districts-to-pre-2001-numbers.html