Manir Dan’iya Vows to Revamp Sokoto Civil Service, Tackle Poverty

Manir Dan’iya, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Sokoto State, has made a commitment to reform the state's civil service and reduce poverty if he is elected as governor in the 2027 general elections. Dan’iya, who is popularly known as the Walin Sokoto, made this pledge when he received a delegation of civil servants who paid him a Sallah homage and declared their support for his gubernatorial aspiration. The delegation included administrative officers, finance officers, and local government personnel. Dan’iya described the civil service as the backbone of government, emphasizing that effective governance and sustainable development are largely dependent on a motivated and professional workforce. He expressed his concern over reports that some civil servants and local government employees had allegedly suffered career setbacks due to their association with previous administrations. Dan’iya argued that public service should be guided by competence, professionalism, and the rule of law, rather than political considerations. He stated that his administration would focus on tackling poverty, unemployment, and other socio-economic challenges affecting residents of the state, including access to quality education, healthcare, and rural development. According to Dan’iya, his administration would prioritize institutional reforms, capacity building, workforce development, and prompt payment of workers' entitlements. He also pledged to build a technology-driven and merit-based civil service capable of competing with the best public institutions in the country. Earlier, Malam Muhammad Gumbi, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, congratulated Dan’iya on the successful Eid-el-Kabir celebrations and commended his continued engagement with public servants across the state. Gumbi expressed confidence in the candidate's ability to implement reforms that would strengthen the civil service and improve governance outcomes if elected. The visit was attended by the ADC State Chairman, Abdullahi Maigwandu, alongside members of the party's state executive committee. Dan’iya cited findings from the National Bureau of Statistics and the United Nations Development Programme-backed National Multidimensional Poverty Index, which ranked Sokoto among the states with the highest levels of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria. He noted that multidimensional poverty extends beyond income levels and includes deprivation in areas such as education, healthcare, nutrition, housing, electricity, sanitation, and access to clean water. Dan’iya emphasized that any government confronted with such realities must channel its energy towards lifting people out of poverty, expanding opportunities, and improving the quality of life of citizens.