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The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano has compensated a former council chair who was allegedly excluded from the state government’s severance package for former public officials.
On Tuesday, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, presented a ₦7 million cheque to Fa’izu Alfindiki, the immediate past chairperson of the Kano Municipal Local Government Area.
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The payment followed claims that the state government intentionally withheld Mr Alfindiki’s entitlements.
The Severance Payment
Last week, the Kano State Government announced it had finalised the payment of ₦15 billion in severance benefits to former elected officials.
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According to the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, the cumulative payout across three phases totalled ₦15.67 billion, benefiting over 3,400 former council members.
However, Mr Jibrin alleged that Mr Alfindiki was singled out and denied his legitimate earnings due to his political affiliations and vocal opposition.
“It is unfortunate that he has been denied his legitimate entitlements simply because he stood firmly with the APC.
“This is wrong, unjust, and a clear breach of the freedom of speech and association,” Mr Jibrin stated.
He said constructive criticism, like that of Mr Alfindiki, is the lubricant of democracy.
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Accepting the cheque, Mr Alfindiki expressed gratitude to Mr Jibrin, stating the gesture reinforced his loyalty to the party.
“This singular act proves that the APC is a platform worthy of our dedication and sacrifice,” Mr Alfindiki said. “From the moment this incident happened, I was confident that the party would stand by me.”
In response, the Kano State Government’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Waiya, dismissed claims of political victimisation. He noted that the majority of the beneficiaries are actually members of the APC.
Mr Waiya suggested that Mr Alfindiki’s omission might have been due to a technical glitch rather than a deliberate act.
He further argued that Mr Alfindiki should have commended Governor Abba Yusuf for clearing the debt, a payment he noted the previous APC administration had failed to make.
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