By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano
Kano state government has defended its request that political appointees who resigned should return official vehicles and other government property still in their possession, insisting that the government’s action was strictly in accordance with the law.
A Statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, noted that the state government has taken note of the widespread discussions and, “misleading commentaries circulating on social media alleging that the government has unfairly directed the officials of the Government, that recently resigned their appointment, especially some commissioners, following the defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, requesting the return of the official vehicles, assigned to them, the action is indeed in the right direction.”
According to Waiya: “For the avoidance of doubt, the vehicles in question were provided to the officials strictly in recognition of their official positions as government appointees, occupying public offices. Such vehicles are government property, allocated solely for the purpose of carrying out official duties attached to the offices being occupied. They are not personal gifts or individual entitlements.”
The Commissioner further stated that, while the vehicles are government property, “it remains entirely the discretion of the Governor to allow any resigning appointee to retain such vehicles.
” Therefore, demanding the return of such vehicles, or directing an appointee to pay for such vehicles in full or in part, where it deems appropriate, remains an absolute discretion of the Governor. This does not, however, in any way alter the legal status of the vehicles as public assets.”
According to him, “public office is governed by established rules of public service and financial regulations, as well as the provisions of our extant laws in Nigeria. By law and administrative procedure, any public officer who resigns from office is required to hand over all government property in his or her possession, including official vehicles.
“The directive for the return of the vehicles is, therefore, a routine administrative practice consistent with due process and standard practice in public service. Therefore, the matter should not be misconstrued, politicized, or misrepresented as punitive. Government property remains government property at all times, unless expressly transferred through lawful and documented procedures.”
Waiya said Kano State Government remained committed to transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to the rule of law in the management of public resources.
” These vehicles, if recovered from the Government officials who resigned, shall be allocated to people who shall subsequently be appointed as Commissioners or to any other public officer who has an entitlement to use such an official vehicle for his or her official engagements.
“We urge members of the public to disregard all forms of misinformation and misrepresentation of facts, refrain from spreading unfounded claims and sentiment capable of misleading the citizens, or creating unnecessary tension.
“The Kano State Government under the able leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is committed and focused on delivering dividends of democracy to the good people of Kano, and therefore no amount of propaganda shall distract the Government from achieving its goals,” he added.
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