Kaduna reverts to 77 districts

THE Kaduna State Government is restructuring its districts and village units as it said it is reverting to 77 districts from the present 390 districts.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jaafar Ibrahim Sani.

The government said that it needed to reduce the burden that a bloated payroll imposed 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.

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 the proliferation created a financial burden for local government councils.

Sani said the state government was “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 included provision of official vehicles which had been purchased for distribution to the third-class chiefs and the maintenance of palaces, 10 of which have recently been renovated.”