Senator Muntari Muhammad Dandutse currently represents Katsina South Senatorial District (Funtua Zone) in the National Assembly. He is serving his first term in the Senate, having been elected during the 2023 general elections. Before this, he served three consecutive terms in the House of Representatives, representing the Funtua/Dandume Federal Constituency.
As we all know, the main responsibilities of a lawmaker include sponsoring bills that improve the lives of constituents, facilitating constituency projects in the areas they represent, and—although not constitutionally mandated—assisting constituents in securing employment due to the high unemployment rate in the country. Unfortunately, this last function has become an expected norm.
While I do not doubt Senator Dandutse’s understanding of these responsibilities, I hold him accountable for neglecting them. Funtua, the heart of Katsina South Senatorial District, is among the most insecurity-prone areas in our state. Our communities have long suffered from persistent insecurity, including rampant banditry and, more recently, a disturbing increase in phone snatching. Many families have been affected, either directly or indirectly, by these ongoing issues.
One would expect our senator to rise in the Red Chamber and sponsor—or at least co-sponsor—bills aimed at tackling banditry and restoring peace to our communities. Disappointingly, Senator Dandutse has failed to do so. Despite several attempts to engage him through both written and verbal communications, and his repeated promises to take action, no meaningful or decisive steps have been taken. Instead, we are witnessing a resurgence of these problems, now appearing in new and more troubling forms.
In addition, Senator Dandutse is the current Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund. This is a strategic position that should allow him to facilitate scholarships, employment opportunities, skills acquisition programs, capacity-building workshops, and other forms of empowerment for his constituents and the people of Katsina State at large. Sadly, none of these benefits have materialized. His countless unfulfilled promises have left many feeling misled and disappointed.
To draw a comparison, former Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita, who held the same committee chairmanship between 2019 and 2023 while representing Katsina North, used his position wisely. He secured jobs for nearly a thousand constituents—not just within institutions under his committee, but across various ministries and agencies. His impact remains visible and widely admired. One would think Senator Dandutse might follow such an example.
Additionally, it has become a common practice among politicians to distribute palliatives to constituents during Ramadan, Eid, or election periods. However, Senator Dandutse has largely abandoned this practice. Instead, he organizes lavish “empowerment” events in a fenced warehouse, where a small number of handpicked individuals—referred to as beneficiaries—are ceremonially presented with items like motorcycles, bags of fertilizer, sachets of water, and tricycles (Keke Napep). The event is usually attended by a VIP guest, such as the Governor or the Deputy Senate President, who hands over the items to a few chosen recipients, often no more than ten.
After a short speech, Senator Dandutse typically addresses the crowd, saying, “I won’t give you these items today because political thugs are waiting by the gate to snatch them. Please be patient—we’ll deliver them to your homes within two days.” The items are then packed back into the warehouse, and that’s the end of it. This repeated performance has earned him the nickname “Senator Open and Close” among his constituents.
Furthermore, a new University of Medical Sciences is currently being built in Funtua Local Government Area. Initially, the Senator claimed full credit for this development at a press conference. The community was excited—I personally celebrated the news on social media, especially considering that we had been advocating for a higher institution in the area for over two decades.
However, during a visit by a delegation from the NUC, TETFund, and the Federal Ministry of Education to Funtua, the story changed. During a courtesy visit to the palace of Sarkin Maska, the delegation clearly stated that the credit for the university’s establishment belonged to Governor Radda, not Senator Dandutse. Later that day, with the Senator present, the team visited the Katsina Government House to officially thank the Governor for the project. This revelation not only embarrassed the Senator but also exposed the misinformation he had spread.
To make matters worse, Senator Dandutse has further tarnished the image of Katsina South in the Senate. While he may not be a university graduate, one would still expect him to have a reasonable command of the English language, especially when compared to his peers. Unfortunately, his public speeches often reflect a lack of basic education. This is embarrassing for the people of Katsina South, who are known for being educated and forward-thinking. In fact, it’s doubtful that a serious Senior Secondary School student would speak as poorly as he does.
A recent example was his attempt to defend Senator Godswill Akpabio during a debate involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Senator Dandutse’s contribution was incoherent and rambling, only further exposing his lack of depth to the entire nation.
Now, with two of his four-year term already gone, and preparations for the next election expected to begin later this year or early next year, we are left wondering: when will Senator Dandutse begin to sponsor bills in the Senate? So far, not a single bill has come from him. We have seen senators in neighboring states implement meaningful constituency projects—when will ours do the same?
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Senator Dandutse should be in a strong position to facilitate jobs, scholarships, and academic opportunities. Yet, so far, there is no known beneficiary—locally or internationally—of any scholarship linked to his efforts.
Just recently, his colleague and close ally, Senator Barau, awarded scholarships to 300 postgraduate students at institutions such as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Bayero University Kano (BUK), Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Ibadan. Earlier, he had sponsored about 100 students to study Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, and other science-based courses in China. I even saw Senator Dandutse in a photo with the Deputy Senate President and the scholarship beneficiaries. So why can’t he follow Senator Barau’s example?
If Senator Dandutse is not too ashamed to beg for our votes during campaigns, then he should not be too proud to fulfill his responsibilities and deliver on his promises.
Haruna Hassan, an advocate of good governance, writes from Funtua, Katsina State.
The opinions and views expressed by contributors are solely their own and do not reflect the official stance of Kano Times.
