The Kaduna State Ministry of Finance faces scrutiny as it prepares to submit all pertinent documents regarding loans acquired during the eight-year tenure of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai to the state House of Assembly today, Thursday. The Assembly’s directive, outlined in a letter referencing LEG/S. 382/VOL. II/615, underscores efforts to unravel the financial landscape of the previous administration.
The Assembly’s request encompasses all memoranda and records of financial transactions spanning from 2015 to May 2023, during El-Rufai’s stewardship. Mandating the provision of 30 copies of each document, the Assembly seeks comprehensive insight into loan approvals, project financing, and expenditure patterns during the specified period.
This inquiry follows the establishment of a 13-member panel by the Assembly on April 16, tasked with investigating finances, loans, and contract projects initiated under El-Rufai’s administration. The decision to scrutinize the state’s fiscal history comes in the wake of revelations by incumbent Governor Uba Sani regarding a substantial debt burden inherited from the previous regime.
During a recent town hall meeting in Kaduna, Governor Sani lamented the financial challenges left behind by his predecessor, citing a debt profile amounting to billions of naira. Despite the daunting fiscal landscape, Sani reiterated his commitment to steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.
The Assembly’s missive to the finance commissioner, seen by our correspondent, delineates a comprehensive list of documents to be submitted, ranging from loan approvals and financial statements to contractor payments and asset sales records. With a focus on transparency and accountability, the investigative process aims to shed light on the state’s financial affairs and pave the way for informed decision-making in governance.
As Kaduna embarks on this journey of fiscal scrutiny, the outcome of the investigation holds implications not only for accountability within the state but also for broader conversations surrounding governance and fiscal responsibility in Nigeria.
