Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has expressed concern about the significant debt he inherited from his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, when he assumed office on May 29, 2023.
Sani mentioned that Kaduna State now has very little money left, which is insufficient to cover the salaries of workers.
He shared this information during a town hall meeting at the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall in Kaduna. The governor revealed that his administration took over $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contract liabilities from the previous governor.
Despite this, he emphasized that his government has not borrowed any money in the past nine months. He also noted that the large debt is impacting the state’s Federal Allocation.
Governor Sani highlighted that, due to the increase in the exchange rate, the repayment amount is nearly three times higher than what was initially borrowed by the El-Rufai administration.
The governor mentioned that in March, out of the N10 billion Federal Allocation for the state, N7 billion was used to pay off debt.
This left the state with only N3 billion, which was not sufficient to cover the monthly salary bill of N5.2 billion.
Despite this, he reassured the people that his administration was committed to leading the state towards progress and sustainable development.
The government has carefully evaluated the situation and is adjusting its focus accordingly.
He 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.”
Regarding security, he mentioned that the state has made significant progress by improving the state Vigilance Service. They have recruited 7,000 additional personnel and acquired over 100 operational vehicles and 100 motorcycles for distribution to KADVS and federal security agencies operating in the state.
Discussing education, the governor stated that aside from establishing various skills and vocational centers to address skills shortages in the state, his administration, in partnership with Kuwait, is working to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Kaduna by 200,000.
The governor emphasized the importance of collective efforts for the progress of Kaduna State, saying, “our collective efforts are essential for Kaduna State’s progress. We aspire to make rural living enjoyable and transform Kaduna into a premier business hub. Our ultimate goal is to rebuild trust and foster peace and harmony.”
Former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martins Luther Agwai (retd.), also spoke, stressing the need for united action to tackle the security challenges in the state. He highlighted that without peace and security, meaningful development in the state would be unattainable.</p>
