The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari has disclosed that his predecessor, Ibrahim Shema, operated over 100 bank accounts.
Masari was speaking when he had an interactive session with
the Katsina indigenes residing in Abuja at Shehu Yar’Adua Conference
Centre, Abuja.
He further claimed that he met only N7.9 million in the government’s salary account.
“We inherited N7.9 million only in the salary account in May, 2015;
the previous administration operated more than 100 savings accounts in
various banks.
“Now, we have serious problem in Katsina State. Federal allocations
of most of our local government areas are not sufficient for them to
even pay salaries.
“Even the state government in many cases has to wait for
interventions like bailout and budgetary support from the federal
government to execute some projects.”
He also said his government met most schools, hospitals and many
public structures in a dilapidated condition, lamenting that the
situation was “deplorable beyond our expectation’’.
Mr. Masari said his administration is still battling with over-staffing and over-payment of salaries, pension and gratuities.
He called on stakeholders to invest in the state to provide job opportunity to the teeming youth of the state.
“In terms of poverty, Katsina ranks third position in Nigeria. But we
have no reason to be where we are. We are where we are because we chose
to be where we are. Let us come together and make Katsina great again
and restore its lost glories.’’
Seven commissioners and two heads of parastatals presented records of
their achievements to the gathering that attracted many prominent
indigenes of Katsina state.
During his presentation, Secretary to the State Government, Mustapha
Inuwa, who is also the head of task force on security, narrated how some
traditional rulers, politicians and businessmen connived with cattle
rustlers.
‘’We have reports where these people will buy a cow at the cost of
N30,000 only, knowing very well that its market value was N150,000.”
