With few weeks to the general elections, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has requested the state House of Assembly to appropriate the sum of N85billion for the 23 Local Government Councils in the state for the year ending 31st December, 2023.
The development was listed in an order paper of proceedings of the House on Monday, January 23, 2023, obtained by SaharaReporters.
The bill which was titled “Messages from the Governor, At the commencement of Business, Notice of the Presentation of bill.”
came up for the first reading on the floor of the House was listed as the only agenda and business for the day.
It was gathered that the governor’s request has raised suspicion and sparked reactions among the lawmakers and stakeholders in the state, who described the bill as a “plot to loot the treasury of the state” considering the timing when general elections were close.
Sources revealed that the governor had alleged plans to divert the state resources to fund the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaigns in the state and further impoverish the people.
A top source called on the relevant security agencies to beam their searchlight on the Kaduna State resources before Governor El-Rufai made away with humongous resources for the campaigns.
Bring to mind that the Aminu Bello Masari-led Katsina State Government also approved N499,650,000 for mobilisation of citizens to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari to the state for the APC presidential campaign.
According to the letter of approval dated January 18, 2023, addressed to Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and signed by the Permanent Secretary in charge of the government house, the money was expected to be sourced from the Local Government Joint Account.
