Jigawa State government dismisses 22 vendors over mismanagement, poor food quality, and financial misconduct in the 2026 Ramadan Iftar programme
The Jigawa State Government has dismissed 22 vendors and companies participating in the ongoing Ramadan Iftar programme, citing allegations of cheating, dishonesty about food quality and quantity, and questionable financial dealings.
Also read: Owode-Onirin tragedy: Four police officers sacked over traders’ deaths
The initiative, launched by Governor Umar Namadi, targets 7.9 million beneficiaries across 640 free meal centres, providing relief and nutritious meals to vulnerable citizens during the holy month.
A supervisory report and field monitoring exercise revealed serious misconduct by several vendors following public complaints.
In a statement, Jigawa State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties, Auwalu Sankara, said the dismissals were due to gross misconduct, mismanagement of public funds, and poor handling of the programme.
“These individuals and entities have been dismissed for gross misconduct, mismanagement of public funds, and poor handling of the programme,” Sankara said.
The affected vendors and companies span several LGAs, including Jahun, Gwiwa, Taura, Kafin Hausa, Birnin Kudu, Sule Tankarkar, Hadejia, Malam Madori, Guri, and Gwaram.
Some of the cited infractions included incomplete food packages, poor food taste, and failure to pay cooks.
Sankara emphasised Jigawa’s zero-tolerance policy toward actions undermining the humanitarian vision of Governor Namadi’s administration.
“Our commitment to standards remains unwavering. We are already in the process of substituting these individuals with deserving contractors,” he added.
He assured residents that the dismissals highlight the government’s dedication to protecting public funds and prioritising citizens’ welfare.
“The people of Jigawa deserve better. We will ensure accountability and continue to serve the people,” Sankara said.
Also read: Google expands AI search to Yoruba, Hausa in Nigeria
The administration remains committed to maintaining high standards throughout the Ramadan programme.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
