Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani Explains Reasons for Unpaid Worker Salaries

Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, recently addressed concerns regarding the state’s inability to pay workers’ salaries, attributing the challenge to the significant debts inherited from his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai.

During a town hall meeting in Kaduna on Saturday, Governor Sani revealed that his administration inherited a substantial debt burden totaling $587 million, along with N85 billion and 115 contractual liabilities from the previous government.

Highlighting the financial strain, Governor Sani disclosed that a significant portion of the N10 billion federal allocation for Kaduna in March, amounting to N7 billion, was allocated to servicing the state’s debt. Consequently, only N3 billion remained, which fell short of covering the monthly salary bill of N5.2 billion.

Governor Sani emphasized the impact of the exchange rate on debt repayment, noting that the state now pays almost triple the borrowed amount due to currency fluctuations. Despite these challenges, he asserted that his administration had refrained from borrowing any additional funds over the past nine months.

He outlined key priority areas for his government, including safety and security, housing, education, healthcare, and support for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Additionally, Governor Sani pledged to prioritize inclusive development by investing in human capital, stimulating the economy, and providing affordable housing.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (retd), stressed the importance of addressing security challenges for sustainable development, while Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamali, expressed confidence in the governor’s ability to navigate the state through its challenges.

However, a critique emerged from Bashir, son of former Governor El-Rufai, who accused Governor Sani of incompetence and attempting to deflect responsibility. Bashir alleged that Governor Sani’s administration was riddled with incompetence, pointing to issues such as the governor’s absence from Kaduna and the appointment of politically motivated aides.

The response from Governor Sani’s camp to these criticisms remains awaited.