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The All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in Sokoto state has berated the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state, Manir Dan Iya, for challenging the state government to disclose the amount it has received from the Federation Account from 2023 to date.
The state government in a statement said allocations to states from the Federation Account are publicly reported through the relevant official channels, adding that asking the government to disclose information that is already in the public domain is unnecessary and laughable.
“First, we believe Dan Iya should be aware that he is living in a modern world where information is readily accessible, thanks to technological advancements that have made the world a global village.
“Unfortunately, his demand suggests a failure to appreciate the changes and transformations brought about by technological advancement and the increasing availability of public information,” it said.
Accordding to the state government, the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu operates on the principles of prudence, accountability and transparency.
It said government transactions, particularly decisions taken at State Executive Council meetings, are made public, including the amounts approved for the execution of various projects.
“This is in sharp contrast to the administration in which Dan Iya served as Deputy Governor.
“Despite receiving billions of naira in monthly allocations, bailouts and other intervention funds, that administration left Sokoto State without commensurate tangible development projects.
” It also left pensioners waiting for their hard-earned gratuities for six years, denied ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) their monthly imprest and left the state burdened with debts,” it said.
The state government further alleged that the administration which Dan Iya served under former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was notorious for delaying the payment of workers’ salaries until the 15th day of the following month.
“Even then, salary payments were uncertain, leaving workers unsure of when they would receive their entitlements.
“Those who eventually received their salaries often complained of shortfalls, with little or no effective avenue for redress, as payments were processed outside the state.
“We still want to remind Daniya that when Governor Ahmed Aliyu assumed office in May 2023, all educational institutions in Sokoto State were plunged into darkness including the Government House, due to accumulated electricity bills running into billions of naira.
“Similarly, the state had outstanding student registration and tuition fee obligations, both within Nigeria and abroad, amounting to over N5 billion as well the outstanding sabbatical allowances for visiting lecturers which were also not paid. The present administration has since cleared these inherited liabilities, including settling outstanding payments owed to students,” it said.
Enumerating some of its achievements, the state government said, “Dan Iya should also be reminded that the present administration has implemented the new minimum wage for workers across the state and local government services, including Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) staff.
“Furthermore, the government has recruited 3,100 workers who have already been deployed to various MDAs, alongside 2,400 health workers and 1,550 personnel for the Sokoto Marshall, as part of its commitment to strengthening public service delivery and enhancing security.
“These achievements are in addition to numerous people-oriented projects being implemented across critical sectors, including road infrastructure, security, water supply, religious affairs, education, rural transformation and healthcare delivery.”
It said the APC-led administration in Sokoto state will campaign for re-election based on its record of achievements and the tangible projects delivered to the good people of the state.
“Rather than demanding information that is already publicly available, Dan Iya should tell the people of Sokoto State what the Tambuwal administration, in which he served as Deputy Governor, achieved to deserve another opportunity to govern the state.
“We shall continue to ask this question throughout the campaign period.
“Dan Iya should know that the people of Sokoto State have bid farewell to a system that, in our view, set the state back through alleged diversion of public funds, mismanagement of resources and poor infrastructure. It was an era characterised by dilapidated roads, deteriorating educational and healthcare facilities, inadequate support for security agencies in the fight against banditry, and uncertainty over the timely payment of workers’ salaries,” it said.
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