Kano Redeployed Over 12,800 Teachers to Public Schools to Address Shortages – Majiɗaɗin Kiru

A former Kano State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Muhammad Sanusi Sa’id Kiru, popularly known as Majiɗaɗin Kiru, has disclosed that his administration redeployed more than 12,000 teachers to public schools to address acute staffing shortages across the state.

Kiru explained that over 5,900 qualified teachers were transferred from administrative offices and other government establishments to classrooms, while more than 6,900 government-paid teachers working in private schools were recalled to public schools.

He made the disclosure during an interview with a digital media platform, where he reflected on his achievements, challenges and policy interventions during his tenure as commissioner.

According to him, the measures became necessary because the state government faced financial constraints that limited its ability to recruit additional teachers, despite the growing demand for qualified personnel in public schools.

He said an assessment conducted by the Ministry of Education revealed that several public schools were operating with dangerously low numbers of teachers, with some having only one teacher who also served as headteacher.

“In my own local government alone, there were over 57 to 59 schools where the headmaster was the only teacher in the entire school,” he said.

Kiru explained that the ministry subsequently worked with Local Government Education Secretaries and Zonal Directors to identify available personnel who could be redeployed to address the shortage.

The exercise, he said, uncovered qualified teachers holding National Certificates in Education (NCE) and degrees in education who had been assigned to administrative offices, local government councils and other government establishments instead of teaching.

He said the ministry recalled the affected personnel and returned them to classrooms, alongside government-funded teachers who had been deployed to private schools.

The former commissioner maintained that the intervention demonstrated the importance of effectively utilising existing human resources while governments explored ways to overcome financial limitations affecting recruitment.

COVID-19: Kano Adopted Alternative Learning Methods

Reflecting on his tenure, Kiru said his administration introduced various educational initiatives, established new schools, renovated existing facilities and organised professional development programmes for teachers.

He noted that Kano’s large population placed considerable pressure on educational infrastructure, citing more than 8,000 primary schools and approximately 1,548 secondary schools in the state at the time.

He also highlighted the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, explaining that television and radio broadcasts were used to sustain teaching and learning when conventional classroom activities were disrupted.

Other interventions, according to him, included the provision of instructional materials, recruitment of qualified graduates, promotion of teachers and efforts to ensure timely payment of salaries.

However, he identified inadequate funding as one of the major challenges confronting the education sector during his tenure.

He explained that limited government revenue, combined with salary obligations and other essential expenditures, restricted the resources available for fresh recruitment.

These constraints, he said, made the redeployment of existing teachers a necessary alternative to addressing staffing shortages.

Kiru also acknowledged subsequent recruitment efforts by the current administration, noting that the employment of additional teachers had further expanded the workforce available to public schools.

He attributed the recruitment drive partly to improved government revenue and expressed optimism about the future of education in Kano State.

Kiru Describes Governor Abba’s Return to APC as Positive Development

On the political situation in Kano State, the former commissioner described Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a positive development that had strengthened the party’s political position in the state.

Kiru said he had remained in the APC since its formation in 2014, following the merger of political parties, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

He recalled that the APC governed Kano State until 2023, when it lost the governorship election to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

According to him, Governor Yusuf’s return to the APC has created opportunities for greater political cooperation and strengthened the party’s prospects ahead of future elections.

Addressing concerns that some longstanding APC members might be marginalised following the governor’s return, Kiru insisted that he and his political associates had not been sidelined.

He cited the current deputy governor’s position within their political group and recalled that they had previously served together as commissioners in the state government.

He also pointed to the appointment of advisers from within the APC as evidence of efforts to accommodate party members who had remained loyal to the organisation.

Kiru further disclosed that committee structures had been established at the local government level to provide opportunities for former and serving public officeholders to participate in political coordination and decision-making.

Those eligible to participate, he said, included former and serving local government chairmen, state and federal lawmakers, commissioners, special advisers, executive secretaries, managing directors and director-generals.

He maintained that the arrangements were intended to draw on the experience of political stakeholders while promoting community development.

Although he acknowledged that disagreements and complaints were inevitable in politics, particularly when individuals felt their expectations had not been met, he argued that inclusion should also be assessed by the opportunities available to party members to participate in decision-making.

“No human being can satisfy everyone except Allah. But we do our best within our means to ensure fairness,” he said.

Why I Joined Politics After Civil Service Career

Explaining his transition from the civil service into politics, Kiru said political participation offered a broader platform for contributing to public service and community development.

He urged educated and experienced Nigerians to become actively involved in politics rather than remain on the sidelines criticising government policies and the conduct of public officials.

According to him, individuals with experience in public institutions can contribute meaningfully to governance by offering advice, accepting responsibility and helping to shape policies that address the needs of the people.

Kiru said his experience in the civil service strengthened his desire to serve the public, particularly by creating employment opportunities for young people.

He added that his previous ability to assist people while working in the civil service encouraged him to consider how much more he could accomplish through political appointments or elected positions.

He also noted that political participation could provide opportunities to attract development projects and other benefits to one’s community.

The former commissioner contested for a seat in the House of Representatives in the 2023 general elections but was unsuccessful.

He currently serves as Director of Training and Programmes at the Progressive Institute (TPI) and remains active in APC political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kiru is a former Kano State Commissioner for Education and an indigene of Kiru Local Government Area.