Masari gives condition for council poll

Gov pays N3.6 million fines for 61 inmates
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State yesterday called for a summit before local council election could hold in the state.

The governor made the call when the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, visited him during the yearly Durbar to mark the Sallah.

He said the councils were facing some financial challenges, which must be discussed before the poll.

Masari, who promised to grant the local councils their full autonomy after the poll, disclosed that local council elections were last held during the era of former Governor Ibrahim Shema.

He said the proposed summit, which would hold next month, would identify some of their problems and proffer solutions to them.

He said: “The state resolved to hold the summit because all efforts to address the problems faced by the local councils were not yielding positive results.”

According to him, government’s efforts were being frustrated by some civil servants, as well as politicians and traditional rulers.

He disclosed that out of the 34 local councils in the state, only five could pay the salaries of their workers, adding that the state provides an additional N100 million monthly to pay the salaries of council workers.

Masari stressed that the situation was creating a serious burden on the state, adding that the summit would specifically address the problem of funding.

The emir urged prayers for the peace and unity of the country and commended the governor for reviving the education system.

In another development, the governor has personally paid the fines of 61 inmates amounting to the tune of over N3.6 million.

A statement issued to newsmen yesterday signed by the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Abdu Labaran, said the payment was to enable them “regain their freedom and celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr with their family and the rest of the society.”

According to the statement: “The inmates were drawn from various prisons across the state, with 13 each from Katsina and Funtua local councils.

Nine of the inmates were from Daura Prison, seven from Dutsinma, four each from Kankia and Jibia and three each from Malumfashi and Mani.”