RismadarVoice Reporters
January 17, 2026
The Kano State Government has dismissed reports suggesting that a recent directive by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, which temporarily halted the forwarding of files to his office, has crippled public administration in the state.
Describing the claims as misleading and lacking factual or legal basis, the government said the directive was a routine fiscal control measure taken in line with due process.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar F. Ibrahim, the government explained that the directive was issued towards the end of December, when the 2025 Appropriation Law was nearing expiration and the 2026 budget was still undergoing legislative consideration by the Kano State House of Assembly.
“The directive was issued at a time when prudence, legality and respect for due process demand restraint in executive approvals, particularly those with financial implications,” the statement said.
According to the government, the measure was aimed at preventing unauthorised expenditures, illegal financial commitments and future audit queries, stressing that no new spending obligations should be undertaken in the absence of a valid appropriation law.
The directive, however, sparked public debate following media reports alleging that it had resulted in administrative gridlock within the state bureaucracy. Some reports claimed that large volumes of files accumulated at the Government House were later returned to various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), raising concerns about possible delays in governance and service delivery.
