The Executive Governor of Kaduna Stat, Uba Sani, has lamented the huge debt he inherited from his predecessor.
According to Sani, the state is now left with a few amount that is not enough to pay salary.
The governor made this known while addressing a Town Hall Meeting which took place at the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Kaduna.
He added that his administration inherited a total of $587m, N85bn, and 115 contract liabilities from the ex-governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
Despite this, he said he has not borrowed money in the last nine months of his administration and noted that the huge debt burden was eating deep into the state’s Federal Allocation.
He stressed that due to the increase in the exchange rate, he was paying back almost triple of what was borrowed by the former administration.
He said N7bn out of the N10bn Federal Allocation for the state in March was used to service debt and added that the state was left with N3 billion, an amount which he said was not enough to pay salary as the state monthly wage bill stands at N5.2bn.
He assured the good people of the state that his administration is determined to steer the state towards progress and sustainable development, as the government has carried out a thorough assessment of the situation and was sharpening 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 prioritizing inclusive development by investing in human capital, stimulating the economy, and providing affordable housing.
“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.”
