Isiyaku Ahmed
Senator Abdulrahman Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, has reviewed the promises he made to constituents during the 2023 election campaign, highlighting his legislative activities and constituency interventions as the 2027 general elections approach.
He presented his scorecard at a one-on-one accountability forum organised by the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in collaboration with his office, in Kano on Sunday at the Avebue Event Center.
The forum, titled “One-on-One with Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila: Reviewing the 2023 Kano South Campaign Promises Ahead of 2027,” provided an opportunity for the senator to account for his stewardship and for journalists and constituents to assess his performance against the commitments he made during the 2023 election.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, Adewale Murtala, said the forum was organized to subject the senator’s stewardship to public scrutiny and promote accountability among elected representatives.
He said the initiative was also aimed at encouraging issue-based political discourse by providing a platform where elected officials could explain their policies, programs and achievements to the public.
Education and Scholarships
Sen. Kawu said his 2023 campaign agenda was largely focused on social justice, with particular emphasis on education, healthcare, irrigation, agriculture and other interventions aimed at improving the living conditions of people in Kano South.
He recalled that he had promised during the campaign to serve as the voice of the people of the senatorial district at the National Assembly and pursue programmes capable of addressing their needs.
According to him, his office has sponsored more than 47 motions on issues affecting his constituents within his first three years in the Senate.
He added that his constituency interventions had covered all 16 Local Government Areas and 171 political wards that make up Kano South Senatorial District.
On education, the senator said 1,082 students had benefited from his Waraka Scholarship Scheme between 2023 and 2026.
He explained that the beneficiaries included 852 university students and 230 students studying at colleges of health sciences, with tuition fees paid directly to their respective institutions.
Sen. Kawu further disclosed that 450 beneficiaries were receiving a monthly stipend of N10,000, while support was also provided for accommodation and registration where necessary.
He said 473 beneficiaries were enrolled in health-related programmes, while 278 were studying education-related courses, particularly Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Mathematics.
The Senator explained that the focus on science-related courses was informed by what he described as a shortage of qualified science teachers in secondary schools across the senatorial district.
He also recalled that in August 2023, he launched a N153 million scholarship programme for 100 indigent constituents to study nursing and other health-related courses, with beneficiaries drawn from the 171 wards in the district.
Agriculture, Water and Healthcare
On agriculture, Sen. Kawu said his interventions included the drilling of 6,090 tube wells and the restoration of about 1,297 hectares of farmland for irrigation.
He said the initiatives were aimed at expanding dry-season farming, increasing agricultural productivity and improving the livelihoods of farmers across Kano South.
In the healthcare sector, the senator reported that more than 400 free surgical operations had been conducted, while over 1,000 hospital beds and mattresses were provided to healthcare facilities within the constituency.
He also listed the renovation of schools and additional support for healthcare facilities among his constituency interventions.
According to him, the various projects were designed to address basic needs at the grassroots while complementing government efforts in education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure.
Infrastructure and Empowerment
Sen. Kawu further disclosed that his office had facilitated the installation of more than 3,700 solar-powered streetlights across communities in Kano South.
He also listed the resumption of work on a 19-kilometre dual-carriageway project, the construction of 11 bridges and culverts, and the rehabilitation of 16 locations affected by erosion and flooding.
On economic empowerment, the senator said his office had distributed about 915 vehicles, 449 sewing machines, tricycles and motorcycles to constituents under various empowerment initiatives.
He urged constituents, journalists and other stakeholders to independently assess the projects and verify the figures contained in his scorecard.
Call for Stronger Oversight
Sen. Kawu identified effective legislative oversight as one of the major challenges facing Nigeria’s democratic system, arguing that stronger oversight by the National Assembly and state legislatures would promote accountability and prudent management of public resources.
He also called on the media to intensify investigative reporting and hold elected officials accountable for promises made to the electorate.
The Senator said the essence of the accountability forum was to shift political discourse away from personal attacks and focus instead on issues, measurable performance and the needs of constituents.
“We are focusing on issues-based campaigns, track record and strategic vision rather than personal attack,” he said, as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kawu is seeking re-election to the Senate in 2027 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to reports on the accountability forum.
