Kaduna Debt Burden: JACON Demands Probe Of El-Rufai’s Administration

A group under the aegis of Joint Action Committee on Non-Violence Movement (JACON), has demanded the setting up of a commission of enquiry to probe the heavy debt burden incurred by the administration of for Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i.

JACON said the probe would unravel contracts awarded for which payments were made but not executed or partially executed in order to recover monies from abandoned contracts after collecting mobilization money.

Governor Uba Sani had at a town hall stakeholders meeting on Saturday March 30, 2024, lamented the huge debt burden of $587 million and N85 billion in addition to 115 contractual liabilities which has made it difficult to pay workers’ salaries and contractors debt obligations.

Senator Sani also said the State Government received allocation of N10 billion from the Federation Account for the month of March, out of which N7 billion was deducted to service debts left by the El-Rufai-led administration, leaving a balance of N3 billion that was not enough to pay workers’ salaries which stood at N5.2 billion monthly.

The group which demonstrated in Kaduna on Sunday, carrying placards with various inscription that read; “SOS Save Our State” “Depleted Treasury, Debt! Debt!”, “Let’s stand together on this”, “Enough is Enough”, “El-Rufai Has Mortgaged Our Future” among others, later told journalists at a press conference addressed by its Coordinator, Mr. Musa Idris that the award of contract for the non-existent construction of three specialist hospitals in the three senatorial zones for which money was fully paid should be probed.

Idris further said; “That a Task-Force should be constituted to recover all government assets from former political appointees and former State House Assembly members (like cars etc).

“That anybody found wanting after the investigation should have his assets confiscated and forfeited to the State Government.

“Culprits should be banned from holding any political office for a period of years as may be decided. That such a person(s) be handed over to the EFCC and ICPC for further interrogations.

“That contractors whom have successfully and satisfactorily completed their jobs should be paid while those that absconded should be compelled to return and complete their projects,” he said.

JACON commended Governor Uba Sani for running the State without borrowing a single kobo since he assumed office on May 29, 2023 and also praised the governor for embarking on some on-going projects in education, housing, rural infrastructure, feeder roads and housing, spread across the 23 Local Government Areas (LGA) in the State.

The group further declared that unlike in the past, credit should be given to the Kaduna State Government under the leadership of Senator Uba Sani and the Federal Government under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the successful rescue of the Kidnapped Kuriga School Children.

It also applauded Governor Sani for the reconstruction of the Tudun Biri community that was bombed by suspected terrorists.