The Yero left Kaduna in deficit, says El-Rufai

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has dismissed claims by the former deputy governor of the state, Nuhu Bajoga, that the last government left over N8 billion in the state accounts. In a statement by his spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, Mr. El-Rufai said, “Mukhtar Ramalan Yero’s government actually left the state in deficit and I will explain as follows.

“The Kaduna State Government had N228,333,371.67 in its central account on 29 May 2015. This represents the working capital that could be spent. All other items in the bank balance are committed funds, and are not available to be spent by government.
“These include counterpart and reserve funds clearly earmarked for specific purposes such as MDGs, SUBEB, Sure-P and state pensions, and as such cannot be termed available funds by any responsible government.
“It is pretty disingenuous to infer that a state that is in obvious dire straits has robust finances or to delude to a conclusion that N8 billion on paper is available in reality.
“Furthermore, the Mukhtar Ramalan Yero government that Bajoga served also incurred outstanding liabilities of N370 million by May 2015, that effectively leaves the state in deficit as the working capital of slightly over N228m cannot cover the liability.”
Mr. El-Rufai also stated that the verification of Kaduna State workers was ongoing although the pace was hindered by “poor record-keeping and deliberate attempts to conceal information about the exact financial status of the state.”
“Once the verification process is concluded, the governor will address the state on the financial state of affairs, and will invite anyone with contrary evidence to disprove the analysis,” the governor’s spokesperson said.
Mr. Aruwan noted that the state was broke hence the governor’s decision to cut costs by focusing the state’s resources on priority areas, restructuring ministries and cutting the number of political appointees.
“The merchants of division who thrive in reading sectional motives to policy decisions will not deter this government from committing funds to building schools, hospitals and roads and providing security around state,” the statement said.