The Kaduna State House of Assembly has set up a committee on fact-finding and investigating the financial dealings, loans and grants and other projects implementation from 2015-2023.
This comes after Governor Uba Sani accused his predecessor Alhaji Nasir El-Rufai of leaving lots of debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities. He made it clear that he was unable to pay workers salaries in the State.
He lamented that due to the rise in the exchange rate, the State is now paying back almost triple what was borrowed by the previous administration.
He explained that he is left with N3 billion as N7 billion out of the N10 billion Federal Allocation due to the State in March was used to service the debt.
“Despite the huge debt burden of 587 million Dollars, 85 billion Naira, 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, till date, we have not borrowed a single kobo.”
He was, however, urged by Shehu Sani, a human rights activist and former Senator representing Kaduna Central to employ the services of independent auditors to check the proxy contracts handled by the appointees of the previous Governor.
“The looting of Kaduna State cannot be remedied by revelations alone; but by Courageously constituting a probe panel headed by an independent professional Accountant or Auditor who will invite and investigate ex Government officials and their proxy Contractors to account for the millions in Dollars and Billions in Naira that were misused or outrightly stolen, including the $350million loan. Kaduna State is at its hour of reckoning with the truth I foretold and the truth for which I was vilified.”
