The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and prudent financial management.
The government, while restating its commitments to these ideals, however, alleged that some unscrupulous elements are attempting to use media practitioners to undermine the administration.
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, stated this on Sunday during a press briefing at the ministry’s headquarters in Kano.
He said accountability in governance could not be separated from responsible information management, stressing that while governments must remain transparent and responsive, the media equally has a duty to operate within professional and ethical standards.
“As the chief information officer of the state, I am duty-bound to provide accurate and objective information anchored on truth, sincerity, and strict adherence to journalistic principles. It is necessary to set the records straight regarding recent developments in some sections of the media,” he said.
Arewa PUNCH reports that in recent weeks, Kano has increasingly been in the spotlight over multiple corruption-related cases. Notably, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission are probing allegations of a N6.5bn diversion linked to the governor’s Director-General of Protocol.
In addition to that, the corruption scandal engulfing the government widened after the state’s Commissioner for Community and Rural Development, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, reportedly admitted to authorising a payment of N1.17bn — which investigators say was fraudulent — while serving as the Accountant General.
Waiya said the handling of these matters by some platforms had been “reckless,” alleging that the stories were being recycled in different forms to maliciously paint the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as one that condones corruption.
“Since the story started trending, especially on digital platforms, it is clear that desperate, faceless, and unpatriotic elements are bent on discrediting the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
“They are recycling the same story in different forms, which is a desperate attempt to deceive the public,” he said.
The commissioner urged journalists to uphold fairness, accuracy, and balance, warning them not to allow themselves to be used by political detractors.
He added that the Yusuf administration had introduced far-reaching reforms to entrench accountability, including stricter enforcement of procurement laws, periodic audits, digitisation of systems, and the involvement of civil society groups in project monitoring.
According to him, financial transactions are carried out independently by the office of the Accountant General without interference or kickbacks, while the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has been granted full independence to ensure fiscal discipline.
“These interventions do not only comply with legal frameworks but also reflect a progressive vision that places people over politics, quality over quantity, and integrity over expedience,” Waiya said.
