The immediate past All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje left behind a crippling N500 billion as the debt burden for Kano State.
The allegations are coming from the ruling New Nigerian People Party (NNPP) government, with concerns being expressed that the final figure may even be more at the end of the ongoing verification exercise.
The Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, who made the disclosure at the North-West Zonal Meeting of NNPP held in Kaduna, said the quoted figure of N500 billion could be a child play given the discoveries being made by the committee currently looking at the State’s financial records.
According to him; “We came into office inheriting a government that left us with nothing but debt. Initially, it was N300 billion, but now it is approaching N500 billion, and we are still counting. Once we complete the assessment, we will inform Nigerians, especially our fellow Kano residents, about the total debt left behind.”
Gwarzo said though the huge debt status has clearly hampered the smooth take-off of the NNPP government in Kano, the new administration has recorded remarkable strides within the short period of governance.
Assuring the party stalwarts and members that the NNPP-led government would not disappoint the Kano people, the Deputy Governor said efforts by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf-led administration in managing available resources judiciously are already yielding fruits.
He said; “Governor Yusuf has ensured full payment of salaries to state workers and also resolved outstanding issues. Upon assuming office, he ordered the full payment of salaries which was not the case prior to our administration.
“Furthermore, due to Governor Kabir Yusuf’s compassion, starting this month, the state will be disbursing retirement gratuities, especially the death benefits to families of deceased retirees. The first beneficiaries will be those from levels one to six, as they are junior staff who have suffered the most. We have allocated N6 billion for this purpose.
“The screening process is currently underway, and by the end of this month, many people will receive their death benefits and gratuities.”
The Deputy Governor further promised thus; “This initiative will continue, and our goal is to clear all outstanding gratuities within the next two years”.
