Concerns are rising over administrative disruption in Kano State following a directive by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ordering all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to suspend submitting official files to his office until further notice.
The move, which has effectively stalled activities at the Kano Government House, comes as the governor is reportedly engaged in intensive political negotiations in Kano and Abuja ahead of a potential defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The instruction was conveyed to commissioners by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Farouk Ibrahim, at the close of the State Executive Council meeting on December 18, 2025, which was chaired by Governor Yusuf.
Investigations by Daily Nigerian indicate that numerous files awaiting the governor’s attention since September were returned to their respective MDAs, while the Government House registry reportedly stopped accepting new submissions for several weeks.
A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the situation as unprecedented in the state’s administrative history.
“I have worked in Government House under several governors, but I have never seen an embargo on receiving files. This is the third time the governor has ordered MDAs to halt file submissions. It amounts to a government shutdown,” the official said.
The source warned that the suspended files could include urgent matters such as procurement of medical supplies, emergency responses, and disaster-related interventions.
“Some files may relate to requests for drugs, medical emergencies, or imminent crises. Delaying them could have serious consequences,” the source added.
Reacting to the directive, Kano-based lawyer Sagir Gezawa described it as an abdication of constitutional responsibility.
“Files are the lifeblood of governance. They are the primary instruments through which decisions affecting lives and property are executed. Every file that reaches the governor’s desk has a direct or indirect impact on the people,” Gezawa said.
He added that delays could negatively affect land administration, business operations, and investor confidence.
“For instance, files relating to land titles directly affect businesses. Financial institutions and foreign investors assess ease of doing business based on how efficiently certificates of occupancy, mortgages, and assignments are processed,” he explained.
Gezawa, who previously served as a respondent for the World Bank, emphasized that bureaucratic efficiency is a key measure of governance performance.
“Policy recommendations, committee reports, and development plans are all transmitted through files. Blocking them undermines governance and development—functions the governor was elected and paid to perform,” he said.
Efforts to reach SSG Farouk Ibrahim for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone line was reportedly switched off at the time of filing this report.
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