Governor Radda Charges 361 Ward Councillors on Integrity, Due Process, and Accountability at Sensitization Campaign

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KATSINA

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Radda Charges 361 Ward Councillors on Integrity, Due Process, and Accountability at Sensitization Campaign

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has called on ward councillors across the state to uphold integrity, follow due process, and embrace accountability as the first line of representation for the people at the grassroots.

The Governor made this call today at the 2025 Sensitization Campaign for the 361 Ward Councillors of Katsina State on Anti-Corruption, Due Process, and Effective Monitoring of Public Policies, held at the Local Government Service Commission Hall, Katsina.

Governor Radda noted that corruption remains one of the greatest obstacles to progress, draining resources, weakening public trust, and undermining service delivery.

He explained that, in line with his administration’s Building Your Future Strategic Policy Plan, the Katsina State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (KTPCACC) has been further strengthened to operate as an independent watchdog promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability.

The Governor commended the Commission for its commitment to investigations, sensitization programmes, and stakeholder engagement, describing the exercise as a practical step towards protecting public resources and ensuring development projects directly benefit citizens.

He reminded councillors that, as the closest representatives of the people, they carry the responsibility of ensuring that community projects are properly executed, resources are well managed, and corruption is never allowed to thrive at the local level.

Governor Radda also acknowledged the contributions of development partners, including the Katsina State Community Development Programme (CDP) and the Katsina State Development Management Board, stressing that their collaboration has made governance more participatory and transparent.

“Every act of integrity strengthens our state, while every misuse of office weakens it. With the support of the Anti-Corruption Commission and our strategic plan, councillors now have the tools to act as true guardians of the people’s trust,” Governor Radda declared.

He urged the 361 ward councillors to take the lessons from the sensitization seriously and apply them diligently in their day-to-day responsibilities. He further assured that his administration would continue to roll out policies that promote accountability, justice, and shared prosperity for the people of Katsina State.

Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Katsina State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (KTPCACC) Hon Justice Lawal Garba Abdulkadir Rtd. described the sensitization as a milestone in strengthening democracy and deepening the bond between government and citizens.

He told the councillors that their closeness to the grassroots gives them a sacred duty to ensure that resources and opportunities are delivered without diversion or abuse. According to him, the programme was designed to build the capacity of councillors to resist corruption, insist on due process, and act as vigilant watchdogs to ensure no project is abandoned, no facility mismanaged, and no community left behind.

“Corruption thrives in silence, but with active councillors, it will have no hiding place at the grassroots,” he said.

The Chairman reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to fairness and accountability, in line with Governor Radda’s policy blueprint which places integrity and justice at the centre of governance.

He further underscored the importance of the Community Development Programme (CDP), introduced by the Governor, which ensures that all 361 wards have a voice in shaping development. This initiative, he explained, guarantees that subsidies, agricultural inputs, and other interventions reach the right beneficiaries.

In his contribution, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Bashir Tanimu—represented by the Special Adviser on Local Government Inspectorate, Lawal Rufai Safana—said the sensitization was designed to remind councillors of their primary responsibilities in democracy.

He emphasized that councillors are lawmakers, not contractors, and that their central role lies in oversight: monitoring revenue and expenditure, ensuring due process, and making laws that strengthen good governance. He stressed that councillors are foot soldiers of the Anti-Corruption Commission, playing a critical role in preventing misuse of resources at the grassroots.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Katsina State Councillors, Hon. Abdullahi Haruna Eka, expressed appreciation to Governor Radda for granting full autonomy to local government councils and conducting free and fair elections—the first of its kind in Nigeria. He pledged on behalf of his colleagues that the 361 councillors would remain committed to honesty, transparency, and accountability.

The programme featured several paper presentations by scholars and experts.

Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Kurfi Hassan Usman of Katsina Polytechnic delivered a paper on The Role of Local Government Councillors in Implementation with Integrity and Accountability, stressing their centrality to development outcomes under the KTCDP framework.

Dr. Kamalludden Kabir, Coordinator of the Katsina State Community Development Programme (KTCDP), highlighted how the establishment of Community Centres in all 361 wards is empowering citizens under Governor Radda’s Building Your Future Strategic Policy Plan.

Dr. Kabir Umar Musa Yandaki of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University presented a paper on A Councillor as a Grassroots Politician in Nigeria’s Democracy, noting that councillors are the most direct link between government and the people.

Isyaku Mani Dandagor of the Katsina State Development Management Board spoke on Ensuring Social Justice and Adhering to Policies in Local Government Administration, stressing fairness and equity in service delivery.

In addition to these, several other papers were presented by experts, each offering practical insights into strengthening transparency, improving service delivery, and empowering councillors to serve as true custodians of grassroots democracy.

On behalf of ALGON and the 34 Local Government Chairmen, the Chairman of Bakori LGA, Rabo Tambaya Danja, commended Governor Radda’s fight against corruption and his development drive. He noted that both Islam and Christianity place accountability at the heart of leadership, urging councillors to fully support the administration’s anti-corruption efforts.

Similarly, the Auditor General for Local Governments, Alhaji Shuaibu Aliyu, praised the Governor for reforms such as the Treasury Single Account, stronger procurement laws, and continuous capacity-building for local officials. He called for sustained collaboration with all stakeholders to consolidate transparency and move Katsina closer to zero tolerance for corruption.

Those in attendance included: the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nasir Yahaya Daura; Member representing Bakori Constituency, Hon. Abdulrahman Tandarawa; the Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Aminu Tukur Ingawa; the Chairman of the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission; the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Development Management Board (KTDMB), Dr. Mustapha Shehu; alongside other top government officials and distinguished councillors.

   Salwa radio and television online media services Katsina.

Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed

Chief Press Secretary to the Katsina State Governor

2nd October, 2025