BY AHMED TUKUR, LAFIA –
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has commenced the payment of N50 billion debts his administration inherited from his predecessors in the state.
This was announced by the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Mr. Haruna Ogbole during the 2021 budget breakdown, who said that the payment schedule has been spread for five years for efficiency and prudent management in the system.
Forefront had reported how Governor Sule moved against former governors by setting up a committee tagged “Nasarawa State Domestic Arrears Committee” under the state fiscal transparency accountability and sustainability programme.
The committee headed by the state Commissioner for Finance was mandated to investigate the debt and liabilities profiles incurred by former governors and suggest possible ways of settling them.
Ogbole said; “As you are aware, the state governor inaugurated an arrears clearance framework which amounted to over N50 billion.
“I am happy to say that the state has started paying gradually to reduce the debt burden on the state and create an enabling environment for development. We earmark 7.64billion yearly spread over five years”.
The Finance commissioner said that the 2021 budget tagged “budget of economic recuperation” stands at 115.7billion, adding that 6.21 percent of the budget amounting to over N7 billion has been earmark for debt servicing.
Ogbole also said that another N2.3 Billion has been earmarked for public debt charges (CRF) for capital projects.
