Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has revealed that his administration has so far saved the state billions of naira of public funds by blocking leakages.
The governor represented by his Deputy, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, said this while delivering a speech at the World Anti-Corruption Day organised by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC).
He revealed that leakages had led to the misuse of public funds by those in positions of authority, while institutions, government offices, and the general wellbeing of the public suffered neglect.
He explained that some of the giant strides taken by the state government towards ensuring a better life for the people of the state were evident in zero tolerance for corruption, adding that public properties illegally acquired by individuals in the immediate past regime had been recovered and put to public use.
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He said that the government had also prioritised the creation of anti-corruption units in government agencies while paying pensions and gratuities of retirees allegedly neglected by the immediate past regime worth N6 billion.
Earlier in his opening address, the Chairman of the Kano anti-graft agency, Muhyi Magaji Rimingado, described the agency as the most vibrant subnational anti-graft agency in the country.
He highlighted that currently the state anti-graft office had become a source of inspiration with many other state governors seeking technical advice on how to create and sustain their own agencies.
On his part, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, said there was a need for reform and reorientation in major sectors to effectively achieve the fight against corruption not only in Kano but the country at large.
“The anti-graft institutions should be reformed in such a way that the values of the institutions would affect the values of individuals that work in them. There should be measures put in place by the judiciary to punish any judge whose personal interest are reflected in his judgments against the institutional values.
“To effectively unite against corruption, we must prioritise prevention, detection, and prosecution. We need strong legislative frameworks, efficient law enforcement agencies, and effective prosecution mechanisms. But beyond that, we need to foster a culture of morals and ethical values, where every citizen is empowered to reject corrupt practices,” he said.
