Kano Governor Abba Yusuf has issued a directive to the state’s Accountant-General to close all accounts held by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) immediately.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, during a meeting at Government House, attended by the Chairman of the Kano State Internal Revenue Service and heads of MDAs.
Governor Yusuf stressed that the decision aims to ensure that all government revenues are accurately accounted for and efficiently utilized for the state’s development.
He stated that the move is part of the administration’s effort to improve financial transparency and public fund management.
“We have taken this step to ensure that every naira generated by the state is properly tracked and used to benefit our people,” the governor stated.
The directive comes as a result of ongoing evaluations of the state’s financial systems, with recent discussions on budgetary allocations and improvements in basic education.
Consolidating state finances under a more centralized and transparent framework is expected after MDA accounts are closed, which will ensure that resources are directed towards key developmental projects.
Earlier, five people, including Kwankwaso’s nephew, Musa Garba and Alhaji Mohammed Kabawa, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, have been arrested by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) for allegedly supplying drugs worth multiple billion Naira.
According to Kabir Kabiru, the Public Relations Officer of the commission, the arrest has been confirmed and that Abdullahi Bashir who is the state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) who is also the chairman of the Tarauni local government council, is in their custody.
The suspects are being charged with conspiring to award a contract to Novomed Pharmaceuticals to provide drugs to 38 local government areas in the state, violating public procurement laws.
Novomed was paid N9.1 million by 38 local governments to procure drugs, according to a reliable source in the Agency, but the drugs were not delivered.
The Managing Director of Novomed Musa Garba Kwankwaso, who is also nephew to Sen.Rabiu Kwankwaso, was also arrested.
The spokesperson stated that while the commission is working on unraveling the scam’s details and bringing those responsible to justice, all the suspects are working with the investigation team.
Abba Kabir Yusuf, Governor of Kano State, has mandated the Anti-Graft Commission to investigate the supposed diversion of around N10 million from each of 44 local government accounts to a company labelled Novomed for the acquisition of medical equipment.
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