Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State says N4.7 billion is being deducted from the state government’s federal allocation every month to offset the debt he inherited.
He said as a result of the debt, he had been receiving half of his salary since resuming office on May 29, 2023 amidst financial challenges in the state.
The governor also explained that he had reduced the performance bonuses and salaries of his commissioners, including that of the Deputy Governor, as part of efforts to cut governance costs and make sacrifices due to the state’s financial challenges.
He disclosed this in an interview clip sighted by Daily Trust in Kaduna on Wednesday.
He stated that his administration was doing everything possible to manage resources, given the debt inherited from the previous administration.
“In Kaduna, we are paying N4.7 billion in debt every month; go and check and see our allocation. You will agree with me that we started paying this debt in June 2023. Currently, what we are receiving is about N8 billion, while we should be receiving around N12 billion compared to what other states are getting within Northern Nigeria.
“We are trying our best to manage what we have. Yes, I agree with you that governance is about reducing costs. Since I became governor, I have maintained that we have not purchased a single vehicle for anyone—whether myself, the Deputy Governor, or my commissioners. We have also reduced the performance bonuses and salaries of our commissioners and the Deputy Governor. Today, I am only receiving half of my salary because we have to make sacrifices, considering the challenges we face,” he said.
The governor further explained, “People may ask about our IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). Our IGR account is with Zenith Bank; you can check it. Every month, Zenith Bank deducts about N800 million at source because I inherited that debt.”
He added that he preferred not to complain about these issues, as he believed that governance is about continuity. (Daily trust)
