Deborah Hundenu
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has raised the alarm over the involvement of civil servants in corrupt practices within the state.
The commission revealed that the government officials are frequently used as tools by politicians to perpetrate fraud and embezzlement.
The commission’s Chairman, Barr. Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado, made this disclosure on Saturday during a capacity-building workshop organized by the anti-graft agency in collaboration with the Kano State Head of Civil Service and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), under the ROLAC II initiative.
Speaking at the event held in Kano, Rimin-Gado stressed that most corrupt practices in government occur with the active connivance of civil servants, who are often coerced by political officeholders into engaging in these illegal activities.
“In the 101 cases of bribery and corruption that we investigated, 99 percent were carried out with the active knowledge and connivance of civil servants, making them dangerous tools for perpetuating corruption,” Rimin-Gado stated.
He further explained that the commission’s investigations have revealed a pattern where highly placed government officials employ civil servants to execute corrupt schemes. This alarming trend prompted the PCACC to organize the capacity-building workshop aimed at educating civil service directors on the dangers and repercussions of corrupt practices.
“Our goal is to sensitize civil servants to avoid being used by politicians against the law.
“They are often caught in the middle of corrupt practices, and all the major cases the agency is currently investigating involve civil servants as key players in the hands of those operating at a high level,” Rimin-Gado said.
He pointed out that procurement services are the most exploited avenue for corruption, with about 90 percent of corruption cases in the state being perpetrated through this channel. “When politicians want to steal, they use procurement as a cover-up.
“That’s why we are here to educate them on Anti-Corruption law, public procurement, and financial management laws,” he added.
The PCACC boss also highlighted the commission’s concern over the misuse of local government staff, citing instances where politicians have used local government cashiers’ personal accounts to siphon public funds.
“These cashiers volunteered to withdraw the monies, take them to Bureau de Change, and make returns. We want to warn them about the consequences of such acts,” he said.
Rimin-Gado reiterated the commission’s commitment to enforcing the state government’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption, warning that anyone found guilty of corruption would face severe penalties.
“We are determined to impose the zero-tolerance principle to corruption as mandated by the state government,” he stressed.
Earlier, the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, lamented the looting of the state’s treasury by the immediate past administration.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, accused the previous government of spending eight years draining the state’s finances.
Governor Yusuf urged the state civil service directors to steer clear of corrupt practices and to embrace honesty, dedication, and selfless service for the development of Kano State.
He assured that the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) administration is committed to implementing a zero-tolerance policy on corruption and called on all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to adhere strictly to this directive.
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