Sokoto's reserve stands at N13bn, says Bafarawa
Governor Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto says the state and its 23 local government areas have a reserve of over N13 billion.
``The state government does not have any local or foreign debts over-hang," he told newsmen yesterday in Sokoto.
``Out of this strong reserve of N13 billion, the state government has over N7 billion while the 23 local governments have about N6 billion," Bafarawa said.
The governor, who is also the flag bearer of the Democratic Peoples' Party (DPP), said he recently sent a bank statement of N6.1 billion reserve of the state government to the Chairman of EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
Bafarawa said that no civil servant in the state was being owed any salary or emolument, stressing that salaries and allowances were paid promptly.
``We are not owing them any salary arrears. Their welfare has always been accorded priority'', he said.
He said he was guided by honesty, transparency, accountability and the fear of God.
Bafarawa said that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the joint state/local government account had ``remarkably worked'' in the state.
He noted that between 1999 and 2003, none of the 23 local governments got less than N1 billion, which he said, were mostly squandered before the joint accounting system came into force in 2003.
``The sad trend in 1999 to 2003 was due to the presence of some chairmen who were not members of the ruling party then'', he said.
Bafarawa said: ``that was why the Department for Local Governments was scrapped and a ministry created for them."
``In fact, that singular action was the genesis of my rift with my deputy then. However, I am happy that the system has impacted positively on the entire state,'' he added.
On his presidential ambition, Bafarawa said:``If given the mandate by Nigerians, I will replicate these achievements covering the entire sectors of the economy.''