KANO, NIGERIA — Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the scrapping of the Ministry of Higher Education, a move that effectively removes his deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from his position as commissioner overseeing the ministry .
The decision was announced in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, who explained that the restructuring is part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening coordination, eliminating duplication of responsibilities, and reducing the cost of governance in the state’s education sector .
Under the new arrangement, the Ministry of Higher Education will be merged into the Ministry of Education, which will now oversee all education-related functions in the state . A specialised Directorate of Higher Education will be created within the ministry to manage tertiary education activities, headed by a Permanent Secretary .
Political Context
The restructuring comes amid heightened political tensions following impeachment proceedings initiated against Deputy Governor Gwarzo by the Kano State House of Assembly . The impeachment move, backed by 38 lawmakers, is linked to political differences after Gwarzo allegedly declined to join Governor Yusuf in defecting from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) .
The Assembly has accused Gwarzo of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust, alleging that while serving as Commissioner for Local Government between 2023 and 2024, he received kickbacks totalling billions of naira from local government councils .
The deputy governor has been given two weeks to respond to the allegations.
Administrative Realignment
Governor Yusuf directed the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Office of the Head of Service to ensure immediate and seamless realignment of the affected ministries and departments . Agencies previously under the now-defunct ministry, including the Scholarship Board, will return to the Ministry of Education, while state-owned universities will be supervised by the new directorate.
The governor reiterated that his administration remains fully committed to implementing far-reaching reforms that will revive the education sector and secure a brighter future for the younger generation.
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