As the controversy over the high indebtedness of Kaduna State continues to rage, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has weighed in. IPAC, which is a collective of political parties has urged Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State to constitute a commission of inquiry to look into the issue. The group believes such a probe would uncover the actual amount debts inherited from the administration of Malam Nasir El-Rufai.
The call by IPAC comes after Gov. Sani alleged that he inherited huge debt from his predecessor, making the state to unable to pay its workforce. The Governor recently disclosed that the state services the huge inherited loan With N7bn Out Of N10bn it receives from its share of the federal allocation, while he added that what is left is not enough to pay salary for the state workforce as at when due.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Kaduna State, Hon. Ahmed Tijani Mustapha, said, it is disheartening to hear that the present administration inherited a huge debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from the previous administration, making it difficult for the government to even pay workers’ salaries.
According to Mustapha, IPAC will continue to play a vital role in shaping Kaduna State’s political landscape and promoting the collective interests of the people, government, and its diverse political parties.
“We will continue to promote enabling good governance and accountability in governance,” he stressed.
The IPAC Chairman further said, “the selfish and fraudulent arrangement not only denied our state the means of development and growth, but also made the state financially embarrassed, including using our state IGR as collateral for some indigenous banks.
“To this end, the Kaduna State Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) supports this unique transparent leadership.
“Because of the above happenings and as stakeholders in democratic norms, good leadership, good governance, and accountability in Nigeria and Kaduna State, the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) Executives in Kaduna supports His Excellency’s desire to get our dear state out of these messes despite the humongous debt burden on the state government.
We are highly amazed and proud of His Excellency’s vision and wisdom with all these huge debt burdens that were eating deep into the state’s monthly federal allocation of funds and with the state finding it difficult to pay monthly salaries, but he remains resolute and focused on trying to build a better renewed Kaduna State without borrowing a single kobo in the last nine months of his administration.
“We call on His Excellency, as a matter of urgency, to constitute a commission of inquiry that will unravel the selfish mystery of these huge debt burdens of 587 million dollars / 85 billion naira in systematic executive corruption and the 115 contractual liabilities he inherited.
“The findings of such a commission of inquiry should be presented to the good people of Kaduna State via the same Town Hall meeting.
“Once again, we declare our support for open government by our Governor and assure him of the Kaduna State Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) Executives’ willingness to continue to assist in proffering solutions, suggestions, and providing advice that will be beneficial to our people and Kaduna State,” it concluded.