The Kano State Executive Council has approved ₦99,928,541.63 for the reconstruction and renovation of the “defective fence” and surroundings of the Nassarawa mini Palace where the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, is currently residing.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf announced this on his official Facebook page after the council’s 15th meeting this weekend.
Reports had stated that the state government had ordered the eviction of Bayero from the mini palace, on Thursday, saying the property belongs to the state and is slated for renovation.
But the State Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, refused to enforce the eviction order, saying he was awaiting a court ruling.
Gumel said the government filed a case at the State High Court regarding the eviction, with a hearing set for Monday, June 24, 2024.
Security was also beefed up around the Nasarawa mini palace after the eviction order.
The Executive Council also approved other key projects notable among them include the renovation and upgrade of the D-Ward for the establishment of a Sickle-Cell Care Unit at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano at the sum of 81,621,546.76 and a contract for the construction of Post-Midwifery Institute at Gezawa local government area at the sum of N770,858,450.39.
Also, the state executive council approved a contract for the completion of the construction of College of Nursing and Midwifery at Madobi local government area at the sum of N57,066,422.52.
It also earmarked the sum of N447,621,640.79 for the payment for the excess workload allowances for lecturers in the two state-owned universities, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology Wudil (ADUST) and Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (YUMSUK).
Recall in May 2024, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the two institutions embarked on a two-week warning strike to call the attention of the government on issues of non-reinstatement of the Governing Council; non-payment of outstanding entitlements, gross under-funding of the university, among others.