Kano governor suspends acting head of service

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed immediate suspension of the Acting Head of Service, Salisu Mustapha, over alleged illegal salary diversion.

Mustapha, who doubles as Permanent Secretary, Establishment at the office of the head of the service, was also directed to step aside in that capacity for an unhindered investigation.

The Secretary to the State Government, Faruq Umar Ibrahim, on Thursday inaugurated a seven-member panel to unravel frequent deduction from civil servants’ salaries in the last five months.

The governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, in a statement, said Mustapha, who has been holding brief for Abdullahi Musa, the head of service who is on medical leave, may have been fingered in the fraud.

“To ensure administrative continuity, the governor has approved the appointment of Malam Umar Muhammad Jalo, the Permanent Secretary, REPA, as the new Acting Head of Service, pending the outcome of the ongoing probe,” he said.

“Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his zero-tolerance stance on financial malpractice, warning that anyone found guilty will face severe consequences.”

The investigative panel led by immediate past Accountant General, Abdulkadir Abdussalam, has seven days to submit its findings and recommend appropriate punitive measures.