Gov Yusuf warns Kano LG chairmen against public funds diversion

<p><&sol;p>&NewLine;<div>&NewLine;<p data-start&equals;"0" data-end&equals;"187">Kano State Governor&comma; <strong>Abba Kabir Yusuf<&sol;strong>&comma; has issued a strong warning to<strong> local government<&sol;strong> chairmen against the misuse of council funds&comma; emphasizing that such actions will not be tolerated&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p data-start&equals;"189" data-end&equals;"398">He cautioned that the<strong> Economic and Financial Crimes Commission &lpar;EFCC&rpar; would take swift action against any official found guilty of financial misconduct&comma;<&sol;strong> particularly in contract awards and project execution&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p data-start&equals;"400" data-end&equals;"705" data-is-last-node&equals;"" data-is-only-node&equals;"">Speaking on Saturday through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs&comma; Taju Mohammad Lookman&comma; at a three-day seminar on financial regulations and anti-corruption&comma; Governor Yusuf reaffirmed the financial autonomy of local governments and stressed that corruption would not be condoned&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;It is the responsibility of the local government chairmen to award contracts and pay for the projects awarded&period; However the interest of the state government is ensuring execution and delivery of the projects&period; Failure to do that will attract the involvement of Anti-Corruption&period;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;The state government will not interfere in the running of their affairs because we respect their financial autonomy&comma; but the chairmen should note that anti-graft agencies are monitoring their activities to prevent corruption&comma;”<&sol;em> the governor said&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>He further emphasized that the government had directed the Anti-Corruption Commission to detect&comma; investigate&comma; prosecute&comma; and recover stolen funds from any indicted council chairman&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Government will continue to strengthen the commission to fight corrupt acts in government&comma;<&sol;em>” he added&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>According in reports&comma; the Kano Zonal Director of the EFCC&comma; Ibrahim Shazali&comma; had previously highlighted the economic and social consequences of corruption&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p data-start&equals;"160" data-end&equals;"287" data-is-last-node&equals;"" data-is-only-node&equals;"">He urged the council chairpersons to uphold integrity and accountability&comma; stressing the importance of maintaining public trust&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&sol;p><&sol;div>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;gistreel&period;com&sol;gov-yusuf-warns-kano-lg-chairmen-against-public-funds-diversion&sol;" previewlistener&equals;"true">Source link <&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;