Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has told officials of the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) to either do their job or resign.
Mr Yusuf said the agency has lost its fighting spirit since the previous chairman, Muhuyi Magaji, left.
He urged the new chairman, Sa’idu Yahaya, whom he appointed in August 2025, to consider resigning if he cannot fulfill his duties.
The governor spoke on Thursday at the Government House during the launch of 150 truckloads of subsidised fertiliser for farmers in the state’s 44 local government areas.
Governor Yusuf pointed out a noticeable drop in the agency’s enforcement actions and public visibility.
“The fighting momentum is no longer there like what we used to hear and see,” Mr Yusuf said. “You have sworn with the Quran to discharge your responsibility; if you are afraid to fight, then you have to resign.”
He emphasized that fighting corruption needs a strong mindset and warned officials to prepare for the backlash that comes with their job.
“I am calling on the chairman of the state anti-corruption agency to tighten his belt because fighting corruption is not an easy task,” he said.
“You must be ready to face the consequences: blackmail, people despising you, and hating you. But that will not harm you as long as you are truthful and have a sincerity of purpose.”
Mr Yusuf insisted on a quick return to the agency’s previous standards, including making high-profile arrests and maintaining transparency. He warned that he would not accept any backward steps in the state’s fight against corruption.
“I hope the current anti-corruption leadership will act and restore the past glory of the agency’s fighting momentum, arresting and interrogating officials found wanting. If you are not doing so and publicising your work, you are taking us backwards in the fight against corruption, and we will not accept this retrogression.
“I want to see a very strong anti-corruption agency managed by strong people. I like working with fearless people; we cannot be afraid of anyone. If you are afraid, why did you swear by the Holy Quran? If you are afraid, please step aside and let someone else take over. You must not lead with fear and sycophancy; you must believe that government exists,” the governor stated.
The head of the state anti-corruption agency, Mr Yahaya, could not be reached for comments as his phone calls went unanswered on Friday.
In a move that seems like a vote of no confidence in the agency's leadership, Governor Abba Yusuf has asked federal anti-graft bodies to oversee the distribution of subsidised fertiliser across Kano State.
In a statement on Friday by the governor’s media aide, Sanusi Bature, Governor Yusuf specifically called for the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to ensure transparency and accountability during the process.
According to the governor, involving these federal agencies is meant to ensure that the fertiliser gets to real farmers and to prevent diversion, hoarding, and other corrupt activities.
He urged the 44 local government chairmen in the state to handle the distribution honestly, fairly, and accountably. He said this intervention aims to lower farming costs, improve agricultural productivity, and boost food security.
Governor Yusuf warned that anyone caught diverting fertiliser or undermining the programme would face the full force of the law.
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