Umar Namadi, governor of Jigawa, has suspended Aminu Kanta, commissioner for commerce, over the alleged mismanagement of funds allocated for the Ramadan feeding programme.

Ismaila Dutse, public relations officer in the office of the secretary to the state government, announced Kanta’s suspension in a statement issued on Friday.

"The governor directed for the suspension in a letter, conveyed by the Secretary to the Jigawa State Government,“ the statement reads.

"The Commissioner was suspended for alleged involvement in mismanagement of iftar feeding programme fund in Babura Local Government Area.

"The suspension begins with immediate effect pending investigation."

The state executive council (SEC) had approved N2.8 billion for Ramadan iftar programme across the 27 LGAs of Jigawa.

Under the programme, 600 centres were created with a minimum of two feeding points in every political ward.

There are also designated centres at every higher institution of learning in the state.

Dutse said the suspension was part of the government’s commitment to ensure financial accountability and prudent management of public funds.

He added that an investigation would be carried out by a committee set up by the state governor to probe the allegation.

PlasmaTV:
Northern Nigeria is a different zone all together . They'd rather carry religion on their heads rather than improve the standard of living of their constituents.

Dittodat:



k

Musablessing:
What's wrong with Nigerians and mismanagement of funds

111sunshine:
Hmnn, misplaced priorities by many state governments but we only focus on Tinubu.

Allocation of funds for "Ramadan feeding" is already a Mismanagement of fund. Why is a government responsible for feeding people during Ramadan... Did Anambra or Enugu or Ekiti (predominantly Christian states) feed people during Lent?

Governments who can't pay minimum wage will find money for irrational activities like subsidizing Hajj, subsidizing Ramadan and other frivolous expenses....

It is a travesty.

Dittodat:



But in the SE your Governors are using public money to build and support churches and most of you are ok with it.
SE also carry religion for head like the North.
No govt should spend a kobo on any religion.

emkz:
One of the greatest anomalies in northern Nigeria is the misappropriation of resources on matters that have no developmental value to those states, for example:

(1) Ramadan feeding
(2) Hajj subsidy and outright payment
(3) Mass weddings.

Internally generated revenue in some of the states doing these things are extremely poor. They include: Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Kano. The quality of life of the population is also disturbing, yet they invest in things that cannot improve the lives of their citizens. For example, do all these states have good drinking water? Are their citizens gainfully employed? Are their children in school? Is infrastructure in top shape?

Okay, the funds allocated for Ramadan feeding: are the included in the budget? If not, how will the funds be accounted for? After Ramadan, will the people not eat again? Is it the responsibility of state governments to feed citizens during Ramadan? Do the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia feed their citizens with public funds during Ramadan?

Then to the issue of Hajj sponsorship: when the sponsored return from Hajj, would they return to an eldorado state of affairs or they return to an endemic poor state of affairs?

Northern governors must separate personal spiritual pursuits from public funds. Public funds belong to the public and should be geared towards public good and not fund people's private spiritual pursuits.

As for the Jigawa State Commissioner for Commerce suspended for alleged mismanagement of iftar feeding programme funds, I think the state government and entire cabinet ought to suspend themselves too for misappropriation of public funds to a feeding programme unknown to the state's appropriation bill.

emkz:
One of the greatest anomalies in northern Nigeria is the misappropriation of resources on matters that have no developmental value to those states, for example:

(1) Ramadan feeding
(2) Hajj subsidy and outright payment
(3) Mass weddings.

Internally generated revenue in some of the states doing these things are extremely poor. They include: Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Kano. The quality of life of the population is also disturbing, yet they invest in things that cannot improve the lives of their citizens. For example, do all these states have good drinking water? Are their citizens gainfully employed? Are their children in school? Is infrastructure in top shape?

Okay, the funds allocated for Ramadan feeding: are the included in the budget? If not, how will the funds be accounted for? After Ramadan, will the people not eat again? Is it the responsibility of state governments to feed citizens during Ramadan? Do the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia feed their citizens with public funds during Ramadan?

Then to the issue of Hajj sponsorship: when the sponsored return from Hajj, would they return to an eldorado state of affairs or they return to an endemic poor state of affairs?

Northern governors must separate personal spiritual pursuits from public funds. Public funds belong to the public and should be geared towards public good and not fund people's private spiritual pursuits.

As for the Jigawa State Commissioner for Commerce suspended for alleged mismanagement of iftar feeding programme funds, I think the state government and entire cabinet ought to suspend themselves too for misappropriation of public funds to a feeding programme unknown to the state's appropriation bill.

ganye1:

It is the duty of government to do what will make the citizens happy, so if they are happy when a government provides food for those fasting and subsidy for hajj that's none of your business.

Saudi Arabia has banned iftar meals in mosques ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, citing concerns about cleanliness inside mosque premises after eating the meal which follows a day of fasting.

In a notice released by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs last week, the Saudi Arabian government said that "iftar projects should not be carried out inside mosques out of concern for their cleanliness".

"Imams and Muezzins should find an appropriate place for iftar in the courtyards of the mosques. No temporary rooms or tents should be created for this purpose," the notice added.

The ministry also stressed that mosque imams and muezzins should not collect financial donations for iftar projects for those fasting.

Along with the bans, using cameras and photography inside the mosque premises is also discouraged and prayers should not be broadcast on any form of media, including online media.

The holy month of Ramadan is set to begin on March 10 and conclude by April 9 this year.