Executive orders, gubernatorial directives, and major policy decisions issued during the 2015–2023 term — tracked from announcement through to real-world effect.
5
Total orders
4
Implemented
0
Partial
1
Reversed
Implemented
The directive
Directive to restructure and reform the Kaduna State civil service, targeting both political appointees and career civil servants for redundancy to reduce the size and cost of government.
Real-world effect
Thousands of workers, including local government staff, were disengaged between 2017 and 2021; the policy drew sustained opposition from the NLC, which called the compulsory retirement of officers aged 50 and above arbitrary and draconian.
Implemented
The directive
Directive to sack roughly 4,180 local government workers as part of the wider public-service downsizing programme.
Real-world effect
Local government unions (NULGE) opposed the move; large numbers of LG staff were disengaged, later becoming the basis for some of the 2026 reinstatements ordered under his successor.
Reversed
The directive
Set up a panel of inquiry to probe the Nigeria Labour Congress over a state-wide strike action in Kaduna.
Real-world effect
A court order stopped the panel of inquiry from proceeding, effectively blocking the directive.
Implemented
The directive
Directed the launch of the Kaduna Urban Renewal Programme covering Kaduna, Kafanchan, and Zaria.
Real-world effect
Described as the state's most ambitious infrastructure investment programme since its creation, generating jobs and renewing education, healthcare, and transport infrastructure in the named towns.
Implemented
The directive
Within 24 hours of Muhammad Sanusi II being dethroned as Emir of Kano, El-Rufai directed his appointment as Vice Chair of the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency board and as Chancellor of Kaduna State University.
Real-world effect
Sanusi accepted both roles; the appointments were widely covered as a pointed political statement given the timing relative to his dethronement by the Kano State government.