Gusau, Zamfara State – A former Commissioner for Information in Zamfara State, Ibrahim Dosara, has dismissed recent claims by Governor Dauda Lawal that he inherited a nearly empty treasury from his predecessor, Bello Matawalle.
Governor Lawal, during an interview with Arise TV on April 14, alleged that only N4 million was left in the state’s coffers when he assumed office. He also cited N16.5 billion in unpaid pensions dating back more than a decade as part of the challenges facing his administration.
Reacting at a media briefing on Monday, Dosara labeled the governor’s remarks as false and misleading. He accused Lawal of deliberately attempting to discredit the former administration for political gain.
“What the governor said is not true. Contrary to his claims, the previous administration handed over substantial funds and ongoing projects,” Dosara said.
According to him, the Matawalle-led government left behind:
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N14 billion in bond proceeds
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N2.6 billion from World Bank allocations
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N6.3 billion in Universal Basic Education (UBE) grants
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N2.7 billion in funds from the NG-CARES program
Dosara argued that these funds totaled over N42 billion and should have been available to the incoming administration.
On the issue of outstanding salaries, he acknowledged that three months of wages were unpaid, but claimed this was due to financial constraints stemming from interference by Lawal before he took office.
“Governor Lawal had already warned banks against doing business with the outgoing administration, making it difficult to access funds,” Dosara added.
He also rejected suggestions that workers were owed partial salaries, stating that the civil service system does not operate on a half-month basis.
The disagreement between the two camps reflects ongoing political tensions in Zamfara, as both current and former officials trade blame over the state’s financial and administrative state.
