ALHAJI Tanko Yakasai, former special adviser on National Assembly matter to former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, has stressed the need for a law that would enforce first class traditional rulers in the North to dedicate five per cent of their consolidated federal allocation to fund education in the region.
He also made known his support for the usage of Islamic worship for learning in the light of structural deficit.
“It is a good idea that we tackle our problems of backwardness in terms of western educated by using every available opportunity to bridge the gap between our people and our compatriots in the South. The idea of using the mosque for educational pursuit is a good idea in my opinion.”
Making the assertion on Monday in Kano while speaking with pressmen, Yakasai in respect of recent comment made by the Emir of Kano, Malam Sanusi Muhammad II, said “the traditional institutions, who are receiving substantial amount of money from the public coffers need to come in here.”
“I want to call for legislation to be made that money allocated to traditional councils (emirate council) should be regulated. Although, it is their money, but the proposed law would make it mandatory for them to set aside five per cent for educational development in the Northern Nigeria.”
According to Yakasai, “such funds are not appropriated by the relevant authority (the legislature). And therefore, they are not subject to audit or control by the accountants general of the state. ”
Alhaji Yakasai however noted that to achieve this objective, the 19 state houses of assembly in the Northern region through the collaboration of the state government should set the ball rolling in the overall interest of the people.
and then