The Kano State Government has dismissed reports alleging that a recent directive by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf grounding the movement of files to his office has stalled public administration in the state, describing the claims as misleading and unfounded.
In a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Musa Tanko Muhammad, the government said the directive was a temporary and precautionary measure taken in line with financial regulations and due process.
According to the statement, the directive was issued towards the end of December, a period when the 2025 budget was still under consideration by the State House of Assembly, while the 2024 Appropriation Law was nearing expiration. The government explained that approving new matters with financial implications during such a transition could amount to unauthorized expenditure.
“The decision was taken out of prudence and strict adherence to public finance rules, which prohibit new spending commitments in the absence of a valid appropriation law,” the statement said.
The government stressed that contrary to reports of administrative paralysis, governance and service delivery across the state have continued uninterrupted. It noted that essential services in sectors such as security, healthcare, education, sanitation and other critical public services remain fully operational under existing statutory provisions.
It clarified that the directive only placed a temporary pause on the submission of new discretionary matters to the governor’s office, pending the conclusion of administrative reviews and alignment with the new fiscal framework.
The statement added that the measure was also aimed at strengthening institutional governance by preventing end-of-year rush approvals that often undermine transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline, describing the reports as unfortunate.
