The Kaduna State government has announced the appointment of heads of the 77 restructured districts in the state. A statement by Samuel Aruwan, senior special assistant on media and publicity to the Kaduna governor, said the appointments followed the conclusion of checks and assessments of the 230 nominees forwarded by the 32 emirates and chiefdoms in the state.
He said the appointments consolidate the state’s return in 2017 to the 77-district structure that existed prior to 2001.
Aruwan explained that part of the government’s policy of reducing the size of the government, was disclosed in June 2017 that the state was returning to the 77-district structure that existed prior to 2001.
He said the government reached the decision after due consideration by the State Executive Council of the report of a committee that examined district and village administration in the state.
“A meeting of the State Executive Council on 24th April 2017 had concluded that no scientific criteria or strategic consideration could be found to justify the expansion in the number of districts from 77 to 390.
“Instead, political expediency appeared to have motivated this proliferation that imposed the burden of paying personnel of the 313 extra districts on the 23 local government councils. This proliferation also severely reduced the prestige and respect attached to the office of district head,” he said.
Aruwan said the State Council of Chiefs eventually communicated its support for the restructuring of districts via a letter dated 8th May 2017 which forwarded the resolutions of a meeting the State Council of Chiefs held in Kaduna on 4th May 2017, to the governor.
Those appointed include, Barr. Sambo Shehu Idris, Sarkin Kudu Zazzau; Abdulkadir Magaji, Sarkin Yaran Zazzau; Alh. Ahmed Bashari Aminu, Dan Barhin Zazzau; . Munir Ja’afaru, Yeriman Zazzau. Abdulkarim Aminu, Wamban Zazzau) and Abdulkarim Aboki, Sarkin Shika, among others.