By Atlantic Reports

African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate Alhaji Manir Dan’iya has challenged the Sokoto State Government to show how public spending has reduced deprivation and improved essential services.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Malam Aminu Abubakar, Dan’iya criticised the administration’s priorities, citing a report attributed to the United Nations Development Programme that reportedly ranked Sokoto third among Nigerian states most affected by multidimensional poverty.

The state government rejected his criticism, saying Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration was committed to prudent spending, accountability and transparency.

Poverty Figures Require Context

Dan’iya said the reported ranking should prompt a reassessment of government priorities. He asked how funds received by the state and its 23 local government areas had improved education, healthcare, clean water, electricity, security and employment.

He also cited a National Bureau of Statistics Multidimensional Poverty Index report that placed Sokoto first, with 90.5 per cent of its population affected.

“The two reports used different assessment approaches, but both highlighted the need for urgent action to address poverty and its underlying causes,” he said.

The supplied account did not identify the reports’ publication dates or data collection periods. Without those details and comparable measures, the rankings cannot establish whether poverty has risen under the current administration.

They nevertheless form the basis of Dan’iya’s demand for evidence linking expenditure to improvements in residents’ lives.

Candidate Proposes Measurable Poverty Targets

Dan’iya questioned spending on beautification and infrastructure whose economic benefits he considered unclear.

He proposed greater emphasis on jobs, small businesses, agriculture, vocational and digital skills, education, healthcare, clean water and rural infrastructure.

If elected, he pledged to introduce measurable poverty-reduction targets and transparent reporting. These remain campaign commitments; the statement did not provide cost estimates, funding sources or implementation timelines.

Government Cites Jobs and Liability Payments

Responding through Government House Director-General of Media and Publicity Malam Abubakar Bawa, the administration said Federation Account allocations were already available through official public channels.

Bawa also said the government regularly publicised State Executive Council decisions, including project approvals.

Public access to allocations and approvals provides information on receipts and planned spending. Assessing delivery also requires expenditure records, completion reports and evidence of service improvements.

The government alleged that the previous administration of Aminu Tambuwal, in which Dan’iya served as deputy governor, left unpaid pension gratuities, electricity bills and student fees.

It said the current administration had cleared inherited liabilities, including outstanding student payments, and implemented the new minimum wage for state and local government workers. The supplied account did not provide amounts or records establishing the extent of those settlements.

Bawa reported the recruitment of 3,100 workers across ministries, departments and agencies, 2,400 health workers and 1,550 personnel for the Sokoto Marshall security outfit. The statement did not clarify whether the health workers were included in the wider recruitment total.

Competing Records Ahead of the Election

Bawa listed roads, security, water, education, healthcare and rural development among the administration’s priorities.

He said projects inherited from the previous government, including the Rijiya Flyover and Tashar Illela Road, had either been completed or were at various stages of completion, without specifying the status of each.

He challenged Dan’iya to account for the record of the administration in which he served and said the government would seek re-election on its achievements.

The exchange presents competing claims about priorities and performance. For residents, the central question remains whether spending and programmes have produced reliable services, wider economic opportunities and measurable reductions in deprivation.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.