The Kano State Government has taken a commendable step by rewarding a woman, Malama Abdulkadir-Yanmama, with a cash sum of N500,000 for her honesty in returning N748,320 mistakenly paid into her account. This act of integrity was recognized and appreciated by the government, highlighting the importance of honesty and transparency in society.
The Executive Director of the Katsina State Social Investment Programme Agency, Dr. Mudassir Nasir, formally presented the cash reward to Malama Abdulkadir-Yanmama on behalf of the state government. The funds she returned were intended for the Federal Government’s Home Grown School Feeding programme, a scheme designed to provide free meals to primary school pupils across the state.
Dr. Nasir explained that the woman approached the State Government after noticing an unusual credit alert in her bank account. The alert was labeled as a payment for vendors involved in the school feeding programme. Recognizing that she was not part of the vendor list or associated with the programme, she chose to report the incident to the appropriate authorities rather than keep the money.
“The woman came to our office and informed us about the alert she received, which was titled payment for vendors supplying food to primary school pupils. However, she stated that she is not registered as a vendor for the programme and had no connection to the initiative,” Nasir said.
He further stated, “We asked her to provide her bank statement for verification. Following a thorough review by the Office of the Auditor-General, her claim was verified as truthful. This act of honesty prompted Governor Dikko Radda to direct that she be appreciated for her integrity.”
In recognition of her exemplary conduct, the state government awarded her a cash gift of N500,000, presented her with a commendation letter, and extended an offer for her to participate in the next phase of the school feeding programme. The gesture aims to encourage and reward similar acts of honesty within the community.
