Abba Yusuf, new Kano Governor says Ganduje’s administration left over N241b debt

Abba Yusuf, the 19th governor of Kano State who was sworn-in Monday at the Sani Abacha stadium has said that it is disheartening to hear that the state government left a debt of over N241 billion and that the internally generated revenue is nothing to write home about.

Yusuf is succeeding Abdullahi Ganduje, who governed the state for two terms.

Ganduje, who was represented by Usman Alhaji, secretary to the state government, at the inauguration ceremony, gave a short breakdown of a report of the activities of his administration from 2015-2023.

The former governor said that the expenditure of the state government from June 2015 to May 2023 indicates a total recurrent commitment of N660.3 billion and the total capital and expenditure of N540.6 billion and the total cumulative expenditure stands at N1.2trillion.

There are other MDAs that have significant bank balances which include Kano Energy and Hydro Power Energy, which has N740 million, Kano Energy and Hydro Hydro Power Energy also has N703 million while N4 billion is expected next Tuesday, he said.

He also said that there is the Kano state contributory healthcare agency which has N4.3 billion and then the Kano State Agricultural Company, KASCO which has N837.7 million.

“The current state debt profile is expressed hereunder, the Kano State Banking Funds Trustees which has accumulated an amount of N75.6 billion for Kano state, it is N9.2billion, for local government is N66.3 billion, that’s what gave a total of N75.6 billion.

There are also tax deductions, the pensions contract liability which stands at N4.5 billion. Then the total debt stock, internal and external stands at N123.3 billion. So, the total liability as of 31st December 2023 stands at N241.5 billion.” the former governor said.

While receiving and signing the report, Yusuf described the debt profile left by his two-term predecessor as “disheartening”.

“I’m sorry, I just have to express that, so that the good people of the state will understand our predicaments. The monies that were released or realized by the Kano internal revenue service are not enough to write home about.”

“Why the use of consultants? So many consultants, as draining conduits of the resources of the people of the state. We are going to look at it, but I am not satisfied”, Yusuf said

He, however, thanked the former governor for all the services he rendered to the people of the state.