From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has warned that any government official found siphoning public funds will face severe and swift consequences, insisting that his administration maintains zero tolerance for corruption.
The Governor issued the warning at a three-day Special Capacity Workshop on Anti-Corruption, Financial Prudence, Transformational Leadership and Ethical Values for Chief Executives of Parastatals, held at the Hayatt Hotel in Katsina.
The workshop, facilitated by consultancy firm ANHI, also had in attendance vice-chancellors, provosts and registrars of state-owned tertiary institutions.
Represented by the Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa, Governor Yusuf said heads of parastatals and tertiary institutions are custodians of significant public trust and resources, and must therefore serve as champions of transparency and accountability in their respective agencies.
“Your presence here is a deliberate and strategic decision by this administration, reflecting our conviction that the battle for integrity, transparency and prudence is won at the helm of leadership,” he said.
He reminded them that, as chief executives, they must instill trustworthiness, discipline, performance and accountability in the officers they supervise.
Governor Yusuf added that heads of agencies must be able to publicly account for every decision they take and every naira they spend.
“This demands a culture of meticulous record keeping, absolute transparency and strict compliance with regulations,” he said, adding that the people of Kano expect their institutions to be run with integrity, efficiency and a singular focus on the common good.
“Let this workshop be the launchpad for a new era of ethical and high-performing governance across all our state agencies and institutions,” he said.
Earlier, the chief consultant of the workshop, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Gusau, said the training was designed to equip participants with the skills required to guard against mismanagement of public funds. He recalled that similar workshops had previously been organised for commissioners, local government chairmen and other council officials.
During the session, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa delivered a paper on Integrity and Transparency in the New Normal Leadership as it Relates to Kano State Government. Other scholars also presented papers aimed at strengthening participants’ understanding of accountability and ethical conduct.
Participants commended Governor Yusuf for initiating the workshop and pledged to cascade the lessons to their various parastatals.
