The Kaduna State House of Assembly has set up a committee to investigate all finances, loans, and contracts awarded under former Governor Nasiru el-Rufai’s administration.
The committee has been tasked with examining loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015 to 2023, during which El-Rufai served as the state governor.
The chairman of the House Committee on Information, Henry Zacharia, confirmed the development on Tuesday, April 16.
Read Also:
- Months after extolling El-Rufai, Kaduna governor blames him for state debts
- https://www.icirnigeria.org/katsina-emirate-council-cancels-sallah-celebration-over-insecurity-covid-19/
- Living with pain and poverty: Story of Jigawa state women farmers
Zacharia said the eight-member fact-finding committee was set up during Tuesday’s plenary “to investigate the state’s financial dealings under the former governor.”
The committee is also expected to investigate the activities of Jimi Lawal, the former governor’s senior aide and investment counsellor.
The State Assembly ordered the committee to invite notable individuals, such as previous speakers of the 8th and 9th Assembly, commissioners of finance, former managing directors of Kaduna Markets, commissioners of budget and planning, and commissioners of finance.
During a town hall meeting on Saturday, March 30, the state Governor, Uba Sani, lamented the huge debt he inherited from El-Rufai.
He said his government could not pay salaries because of the debt.
The governor claimed he inherited about $587 million from the former governor.
He also alleged that his government inherited N85 billion and 115 contract liabilities from the previous administration.
He, however, noted that his administration was working to find a way around the situation.
“Despite the huge debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, 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,” Sani said.
He also said the devaluation of the naira made it more challenging to pay back the debt.
He noted that a huge chunk of the federal allocation was being channelled towards debt servicing, leaving the state with inadequate funds to pay salaries.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance