- We won’t incur new debt, state govt clarifies
Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor-elect, Bala Mohammed, has raised the alarm that the outgoing state Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, was allegedly planning to award spurious contracts worth N4 billion and recruit about 8, 000 teachers before transition with a view to leaving financial burden on him when he takes over.
But in a swift reaction, the state government has debunked the allegation that it was planning to award contracts worth N4 billion and recruit about 8,000 teachers before transition with a view to leaving financial burden to the incoming government.
Speaking with journalists yesterday by his spokesperson, Dr. Ladan Salihu, the governor-elect lamented that the actions were allegedly designed to sabotage and cripple the incoming administration at its inception.
According to him, “ While we do not question the authority of the present administration to award contracts and make financial transactions for the day-to-day running of the government, it beats the imagination that instead of focusing on closing its books, the outgoing government has chosen the dishonourable option of emptying the treasury and over-burdening the people with enormous debts again.”
Salihu, who pointed out that Abubakar sacked 2, 000 traditional district heads when he took over in 2015 on the ground that the state had financial predicament, wondered why the governor would employ new staff at the expiration of his tenure.
He further alleged that the state assets were currently being carted away by officials of the outgoing government, warning that their administration would conduct thorough capital inventory and forensic audit of all financial transactions carried out by the outgoing government.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Government has debunked the allegation that it was planning to award contracts worth N4 billion and recruit about 8,000 teachers before transition with a view to leaving financial burden on the incoming government.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the state governor, Ali M. Ali, and made available to journalists in Bauchi, the state government described the allegations as “absolute falsehoods being paddled by the state government-in-waiting.
“It is manifestly clear that the hawking of half-truths and paddling outright lies are the hallmarks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This latest misrepresentation is a clear testimony.”
It added that “until May 29, Abubakar remains the Chief Executive Officer of the state and reserves the right to hire or fire.”
Also, the state Governor-elect, Mohammed, has approved the formation of the transition and inauguration committees for his inauguration.
This was disclosed in a statement by his spokesperson and Head of Transition Media team, Salihu yesterday.
According to the statement, the transition committee will be headed by Senator Adamu Ibrahim Gumba as the Chairman; Alhaji Aminu Yapeco will be the Deputy Chairman while Alhaji Umar Barau Ningi will serve as the Secretary of the committee.
The inauguration committee has Senator Abdul Ningi as Chairman with Alhaji Tanko Dutse as Deputy Chairman while Alhaji Maula Aliyu will serve as the Secretary.
The transition media team will be headed by Salihu while Alhaji Maigari Khanna will serve as his deputy.
The statement further noted that the Transition Secretariat would be headed by Sama’ila Burga who would be assisted by Professor Sani Malami as Deputy Head, adding that the appointments are with immediate effect as the details of the committee will be announced.
