Yusuf Removes Deputy as Higher Education Commissioner, Downgrades Ministry to Agency

Following a reorganization that also saw the ministry demoted to a directorate under the state’s Ministry of Education, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf removed his deputy, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, of his position as the substantive Commissioner for Higher Education.

Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor’s spokeswoman, made the announcement in a statement on Sunday.

The announcement claims that in an attempt to improve coordination and quicken reforms in Kano State’s education system, the state administration has approved the merging of the Ministry of Higher Education with the Ministry of Education.

According to the announcement, the new organization will function as the Ministry of Education after the restructure, with a dedicated Directorate of Higher Education established within the ministry to supervise postsecondary education initiatives.

It clarified that the directorate will be led by a Permanent Secretary and assisted by the staff members required to guarantee efficient administration of higher education institutions throughout the state.

According to the statement, “state-owned universities and other higher education institutions will also be supervised by the new Directorate under the merged ministry, while all agencies under the defunct Higher Education Ministry, such as the Scholarship Board, will return to the Ministry of Education under this restructuring.”

It further stated that the action is a component of the government’s ongoing education sector reform, which aims to lower the cost of governance, improve policy coordination across all educational levels, eliminate duplication of tasks, and reposition the system.

According to the release, Governor Yusuf stated that the reform is intended to improve efficiency, accountability, and the general standard of education administration in the state while lowering the cost of governance.

He reaffirmed that his administration is still dedicated to enacting significant changes that would revitalize the education sector and provide a better future for the next generation.

In order to guarantee the prompt and smooth realignment of the impacted ministries and their corresponding departments, the governor further instructed the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Office of the Head of Service.