The Kano State Government has dismissed reports suggesting that governance in the state has been stalled following a directive by Governor Abba Yusuf asking Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to temporarily suspend the forwarding of files to his office.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Secretary to the State Government, Umar F. Ibrahim, described the reports as misleading and lacking factual or legal basis, insisting that the directive was a routine fiscal control measure carried out in line with due process.

According to the statement, the instruction was issued towards the end of December when the 2025 Appropriation Law was close to expiration, and the 2026 budget was still under consideration by the Kano State House of Assembly.

The directive was issued at a time when prudence, legality, and respect for due process demand restraint in executive approvals, particularly those with financial implications, the government explained.

The state government said the measure was designed to prevent unauthorised expenditures, illegal financial commitments, and potential audit queries, stressing that no new spending obligations should be undertaken without a valid appropriation law in place.

The directive, however, sparked public debate after reports emerged claiming that it had caused administrative bottlenecks within the state bureaucracy. Some media platforms alleged that files had piled up at the Government House and were returned to MDAs, raising concerns about delays in governance and service delivery.

An anonymous source quoted in the reports described the move as unprecedented and warned that it could affect urgent matters such as medical emergencies and disaster-related requests.

Reacting to the concerns, the government clarified that essential services in key sectors, including security, healthcare, education, and sanitation, continued without interruption under existing statutory approvals.

Far from grounding public administration, the directive was a responsible administrative and fiscal control measure taken to avoid illegal financial commitments and protect the state from legal and audit exposure, Ibrahim said.

The government added that the action also helped to curb the practice of rushed end-of-year approvals, which often undermine transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline in public service.

It further explained that the directive only placed a temporary pause on escalating new discretionary matters to the governor’s office, while MDAs continued to function within their lawful mandates.

Describing claims of administrative paralysis as unfortunate, the Kano State Government maintained that the decision reflected discipline, foresight, and respect for the rule of law, not a breakdown of governance.

The government reassured residents that public administration remains fully operational and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, effective service delivery, and prudent management of public resources.