Matawalle fires again at Lawal over empty treasury allegation

The Minister of State for Defence and fast previous governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has pushed again towards allegations by his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, that he left behind an empty treasury.

In a press convention held in Kaduna, Matawalle — talking by means of his former Commissioner for Info, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara — denied claims made by Governor Lawal throughout an interview with Come up TV.

Lawal had alleged that Matawalle left solely N4 million within the state’s account.

However Matawalle countered that his administration handed over N14 billion in bond proceeds, N2.6 billion in World Financial institution funds, and several other different grants to the brand new authorities.

He known as on Governor Lawal to cease the “blame sport” and deal with governance.

“We’re compelled by the circumstances… when he granted an interview to Come up TV… to answer some tissues of lies and concoctions of the Governor,” Dosara stated.

Dosara insisted that the typical month-to-month allocation underneath Matawalle’s authorities was N3.2 billion, which he described as inadequate to fulfill the month-to-month wage invoice of N2.1 billion.

He additionally rejected the declare of 4 and a half months of unpaid salaries, stating that solely three months had been owed. He blamed fee delays on Governor Lawal’s alleged threats to banks.

Matawalle additionally criticized the present administration’s method to safety, citing current assaults and abductions, and accused Lawal of misrepresenting the state’s progress.

He listed a number of points, together with nonpayment of WAEC and NECO charges, incomplete street initiatives, and poor implementation of the minimal wage.

Nevertheless, Governor Lawal’s Director Basic of Media and Communication, Nuhu Anka, dismissed Matawalle’s defence as “a bunch of goofs.”

“I’d have ignored Dosara’s blunders… however I discover it very crucial to react in an effort to put the data straight,” Anka acknowledged.

He upheld the governor’s place that solely N4 million was discovered within the treasury, questioning how a authorities that claimed to have left over N42 billion did not pay salaries and severance packages.

“In reality, the previous Governor had significantly mismanaged the state authorities’s sources… He left big money owed, whereas the state went bankrupt throughout his tenure,” Anka stated.

Anka praised Governor Lawal’s reforms, saying the administration had cleared wage arrears, carried out each the N30,000 and N70,000 minimal wages, and stabilized state funds.

“Zamfara state will not be owing anyone each inside and out of doors the nation,” he stated. “Authorities insurance policies and packages are happening unhindered.”

Responding to Dosara’s criticism of the state’s safety underneath Lawal, Anka described it as “laughable,” arguing that the scenario has improved considerably since Matawalle left workplace.