By Hussaini Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has urged the 44 Local Government Chairmen across the state to uphold transparency, accountability, and ethical standards in managing public funds.
Speaking at the opening of a four-day retreat for local government officials held at the Barcelona Hotel, Abuja, the Governor emphasized the need for openness and integrity in governance.
The retreat, themed “Anti-Corruption, Financial Fraud, Transformational Leadership, and Ethical Values in the Workplace,” was organized by the Kano State Government in collaboration with ANHI Consultants International. It brought together council chairmen, secretaries, directors of personnel management, house leaders, and treasurers.
Governor Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Tajo Othman, said effective leadership at the grassroots level demands honesty, accountability, and dedication to public service.
“Transformational leadership is critical to promoting development and combating corruption at the grassroots,” he said. “Local government leaders must be prudent in handling public funds and ensure that every project they execute reflects the needs of their people.”
He urged the council chairmen to focus on developmental projects, including the construction of feeder roads, the provision of primary healthcare services, school renovation, potable water supply, and public toilets to address open defecation.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government, Hajiya Fatima Adamu Barde, commended Governor Yusuf for his consistent support toward fairness, justice, and responsible leadership in the local government system.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State, who is also the Chairlady of Tudun Wada Local Government Area, Hajia Sa’adatu Yushe’u Soja, welcomed participants and urged them to make the most of the training.
A consultant with ANHI, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Gusau, lauded the Yusuf administration’s proactive approach to strengthening ethical governance and institutional excellence.
Also speaking, elder statesman and technocrat, Dr. Akim Baba Ahmad, commended Governor Yusuf’s leadership style, describing it as people-oriented and accountable.
He prayed for the governor’s continued success and advised local government chairmen to “fear Allah in their undertakings and embrace teamwork for the collective progress of their communities.”
The retreat, according to the organizers, reflects the Kano State Government’s determination to build effective local governance structures that promote transparency, citizen participation, and sustainable community development.
