Jigawa Anti-graft Agency Recovers N300 Million In Six Months

…Probes Five Council Chiefs of Allegations of infraction

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

The Jigawa state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, (JPCACC) said it has recovered well over N300 million in six months, just as it confirms the receipt of over 200 complaints from the public.

The Chairman of the Commission, Barr. Salisu Abdu, while addressing the second day of the ongoing sensitization workshop for public/ civil servants in the state on Wednesday, also revealed that the commission had quizzed not fewer than five local government council chairmen, both sitting and former based on the petitions received from their areas.

The Wednesday’s workshop, which targeted at officers on the directorate and Permanent Secretary cadres, a continuation of the earlier one on Tuesday, according to the PCACC boss, was aimed at offering the officials of the state government opportunity to be acquainted with the dos and don’ts.

Speaking to reporters Abdu said, “Basically, the workshop is mandatory and necessary as PCACC is established by law and we’re dealing with public/civil servants, we need to give everyone the opportunity to know why we exist so that our work will be made easier, we do not like to breach their rights of fair hearing. They should know what they’re supposed to do and know their boundaries.”

Reviewing the achievements of the agency within the period of its establishment, Abdu said, “Today, I’m proud to say that we’ve recovered funds totalling more than N 300 million, which is a great milestone.

“Similarly, we’ve received more than 200 complaints from the general public within the short period of time out of which we have resolved about 75% of them, which is a great achievement.”

He added that the state anti-graft agency, as part of its mandate questioned no fewer than five sitting and local government council chairmen to answer questions regarding complaints from people from their areas of operation.

His words,”Its part of our mandate to invite anybody, including local government chairmen, who is found wanting or that’s believed to have acted in breach of public trust, procurement process, so, when we order the arrest of any local government chairman, it’s nothing unusual about that because it is part of our responsibility.”

“We’ve questioned about five council chairmen for one reason or another, so, it’s not just about those that have left. Similarly, we’ve dealt with cases that have to do with land matters as one of the most concerns in Jigawa state has to do with land matters.”