By Abba Aminu

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State says Nigeria cannot develop or progress with the level of corruption in the country.

Solacebase reports that Ganduje said that the nation would not move forward if the corruption level continues like this.

“Believe me, we don’t need to say that corruption in this country is killing all of us. The truth of the matter is that we will never develop or progress with this level of corruption in this country. We can not go on,” Ganduje said.

Ganduje stated this while inaugurating an eight-man Anti-Corruption strategy steering committee to ensure a corruption-free state with limitless opportunities.

Inaugurating the committee on Thursday in Kano, Ganduje said the mission was to reduce corruption through heightened accountability, transparency and observance of rule of law.

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The governor represented by the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji added that it was also to strengthen capacity for integrity and accountability.

According to Ganduje, Kano state, under his administration had held the bull by the horns in the fight against corruption by strengthening the state public complaints and anti-corruption commission, adding that the commission is doing its job without interference.

He noted that his government had accorded all necessary support to the state anti-corruption in the fight against graft, stressing that no sacred lamb in the fight against corruption in the state as two of his commissioners lost their seats after they found wanting.

Ganduje extols the virtues of the anti-corruption chairman, Muhyi Magaji-Rimingado, whose commitment to the fight against corruption has seen two commissioners losing their seat, a permanent secretary and some other top government officials due to corruption-related issues.

The governor expressed delight with the setting up of the committee, describing it as one of the most important committees set up in the anti-corruption crusade in the state.

“I want to say that this committee is one of the most important committees we will inaugurate. My reason is that this commission has a dual role and responsibility. Its first role is of course public complaints.

“That means, people with some complaints could lodge it at the commission, get it sorted out and resolved amicably. This means it is not what you may call a crime.

“On the other hand, anti-corruption is, of course, a fight against crime, which means, the double role should not be misconstrued or lost, that is fight against a crime, and on and on.

“So, I urge the committee to bring out the strategies whereby the people of Kano would have the benefit of hope to complain when the need arises and get an amicable settlement.

“And on the other hand, to take action against crime or enforcement that could happen. So that it will open the door to the public to come and lodge their complaints for some disputes within the family or neighbours.

“Whether it is against the government or government officials, the complaints could be looked into and sorted out,” he said.

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The Chairman of the committee, and also Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, Barr. Muhyi Magaji-Rimingado said the committee will checkmate the excesses of corrupt practices in a modern way.

“The strategy was also designed to intervene at the legal policy, strategic and institutional levels, the private sector and the society in general.

“At the policy level, the ultimate objective is to put in place a system which promotes an increased alignment of private and public interest, while at the institutional level, laws, and measures designed by the Nigerian Government, state and local government.

“This was to prevent and combat corruption as well as to engage the public more actively in the process.

“The strategy seeks to develop and implement mechanisms aimed to improve the governance of public institutions at state and local government levels.

“And also to remove corruption-related factors inhibiting their accessibility and capacity to deliver quality services to Kano citizens.” He said.

Other members of the committee include; the state’s Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice, Commissioner of Finance and Chairman of the state’s assembly’s Committee on public complaints.

Others include Commissioner for Budget and Planning, state’s Head of Service, Commissioner Ministry for Local Government and representatives from the Office of the SSG, not below the rank of a Permanent Secretary.