Debt incurred by El-Rufai’s administration makes it difficult to pay salaries, says Gov Sani
By Jeffrey Agbo
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has said that the administration of ex-governor Nasir El-Rufai left huge debt which has made it difficult to pay salaries.
Addressing a town hall meeting on Saturday at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Kaduna, Sani noted that his administration inherited a total of $587m, N85bn, and 115 contract liabilities from the ex-governor.
Despite this, Sani said he had yet to borrow money in the last nine months of his government, noting that the huge debt burden was eating deep into the state’s pocket.
The governor stressed that due to the rise in the exchange rate, he was paying back almost three times what was borrowed by El-Rufai’s administration.
According to him, N7bn out of the N10bn federal allocation for the state in March was used to service debt.
The governor stated further that the state was left with N3 billion, an amount which he said was not enough to pay salaries as the state’s monthly wage bill stands at N5.2bn.
He, however, assured the people of the state that his administration remained determined in steering the state towards progress and sustainable development.
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Sani said, “Despite the huge debt burden of $587m, N85bn, and 115 Contractual Liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development. We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly.
“It gladdened my heart to inform you that despite the huge inherited debt on the state to date, we have not borrowed a single kobo.
“The key priority areas of our government include safety and security, housing, education, healthcare, and support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). We are also prioritising inclusive development by investing in human capital, stimulating the economy, and providing affordable housing.”
Also speaking, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martins Luther Agwai (retd.), called for concerted efforts to address the security challenges facing the state, noting that without peace and security, no meaningful development could be achieved in the state.
Earlier in his remarks, the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamali, expressed optimism that despite the challenges facing the state, the governor can turn around the state’s economy for effective development.