Officials of local government councils and local government education authorities in Sokoto State have threatened with serious consequences for tempering with the N30,000 Sallah gift given to workers to celebrate last Sallah ceremonies.
The Governor gave the warning on Friday while addressing a mammoth crowd of his well-wishers and supporters at the Government House, Sokoto.
He expressed dismay over the nefarious attitude of some finance officers especially at the local governments level who denied their staff the ₦ 30,000 approved as Sallah gifts by the State government.
Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu- revealed this in a statement.
Governor Aliyu- said “I wonder how somebody would deny our workers the stipends we gave them in order to make them financially stable during the Sallah festive season.
“Those who diverted those funds must return them immediately or else we will take serious punitive measures against them.
” We will ensure that the culprits reap what they sowed to serve as a deterrent to others, ” he warned.
Gov. Aliyu, therefore, charged all heads of agencies where such corrupt tendencies were perpetrated to hasten the compilation of all the affected workers and ensure that they are refunded.
He also assured the people of the state of his administration’s determination to ensure accountability, transparency and the prudent management of public funds for the good of all.
” This administration is all out to ensure zero-tolerance for corruption and all corrupt tendencies.
“So, if anybody thinks he can loot public funds and gets away with it then, he must be sick.
“This administration is a true reflection of the government of the people, for the people and indeed by the people.
“So, we have a huge task ahead of us that we must carry out diligently without minding whose ox is gored,”Aliyu averred.
The governor further called on the people of the state to continue to rally round the present administration in its undying quest to deliver on its campaign promises.
The governor also thanked the APC leader in the state, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko for his fatherly role and guidance to the present leadership in the state.
He also thanked the entire people of the Sstate for their unflinching support and fervent prayers to the present administration, and called for the sustenance or the tempo.