Bauchi State debt profile rises to N96 billion, governor-elect alleges

Bauchi State Governor-elect, Abdulkadir Bala Mohammed has alleged that the state’s debt profile has risen to N96 billion and indicted the outgoing government for the development.

Mohammed, who stated this in Abuja through Head of the Transition Team, Ladan Salihu, claimed that the level of indebtedness was higher than the N57 billion inherited by Governor Mohammed Abubakar.

He wondered why the state’s debt profile rose to that amount in spite the huge funds the state received from the Federal Government through bail out and Paris Club refund.

He decried the state government’s resolve to make a law granting the state Assembly members life pension of N250, 000 each per month and employment of over 1,200 unqualified persons in the state’s civil service.

Mohammed also criticised the creation of additional districts, village areas and hamlets, as instances of mischief being perpetrated by the out going administration.

“We have had the cause in the past to warm civil servants in Bauchi State that although government is a continuum, they must not shift their loyalty and pile up financial liability through acts of sabotage and disregard for laid down procedures for employment, promotion or discipline.

“We, therefore, warn that the incoming administration would not spare any civil servant who aids and abets these violations. They would only have themselves to blame, as this exercise will be nullified in its entirety.

“The State House of Assembly is making laws designed to assist officials of the outgoing government to escape the long arm of the law for serious acts of corruption while in office.

“In this regard, the State House of Assembly has passed a bill to repeal the Bauchi State Public Property and Funds Recovery Tribunal Law 2017,” he stated.

But Governor Mohammad Abubakar, in a swift reaction through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Ali Ali, debunked the allegations, advising the governor-elect to get prepared to face the challenges of governance.

“The claims are absolute rubbish and there is no truth in them whatsoever. What does he mean by unqualified? Campaign period is over, propaganda may have worked before the elections, but they should face the challenges of governance and stop crying wolf where there is none,” he said.