From David Torough (Makurdi), Jude Dangwam (Jos), Dan Amasingha (Minna), Longtong Yakubu (Kano), Christiana Babayo (Jalingo)

No fewer than 10 of the 28 governors, who recently took oath of office, are facing an uphill task to meet their contractual agreement to provide basic amenities to the people of their state, due to the huge debts profile left behind by their predecessors.

Among them are the governors of Benue, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Kano, Osun, Kaduna, Cross Rivers, Delta and Abia State.

Alia Inherits Over N187bn in Benue

In Benue State, former Governor, Samuel Ortom, left behind over a debt profile of over N187 billion to his successor, Rev.

Recall that the now former governor, Ortom had briefed his successor, Alia on May 28, 2023 before the official handover date of May 29.

While presenting the handover note to Alia, Ortom had explained that the total income which accrued to Benue State in the tenure of his administration from all sources, including statutory income, value added tax, internally generated revenue, grants, refunds and loans was seven hundred and thirty-four point nine billion naira (N734.9 bn) as at April 30, 2023.

According to him, the total expenditure on recurrent wages being salaries, pensions, loans services, refund/remittances and the cost of running Government amounted to seven hundred and thirty-five point six billion naira (N735.6bn) as at April 30, 2023.

Ortom said the total indebtedness of Benue State as at the time of handover was one hundred and eighty-seven point five billion naira (N187.5bn) which according to him was inclusive of pensions, salary arrears, loans, bonds and outstanding contractual obligations.

“The total indebtedness of the Benue State Government at this time of the exit of my administration from office is N187.56bn. This is inclusive of salary and pension arrears, loans and bonds as well as outstanding contractual obligations,” he stated.

Ortom however said, his administration had taken proactive steps to ensure debt reduction. The efforts, he said included debt swap between Benue State Government and the federal government.

“The total debt swap for Benue State and local government councils N71.6 billion are the backlog of accumulated stamp duties as well as an expected inflow of N48 billion.

He added that there was a refund from debt swap with the federal government to the tune of N22.9 billion, totaling N70.9 billion.

He said the debt profile was therefore brought down to N45.2 billion.

Plateau Under Huge Debt Profile of Over N200bn

Former Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong left a debt profile of over N200 billion behind for his successor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang.

Mutfwang, who made this known during his inaugural speech held on May 29, 2023 at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium in Jos, said the financial burden, the numerous needs in the healthcare, education sectors, and the infrastructural decayed the state is faced with, is not going to be an easy ride.

“I understand clearly the enormity of the task before me and I have no illusions that it is going to be an easy ride.

“The state is presently under a huge debt burden of over 200 billion naira, the healthcare sector is in need of urgent attention, our school system requires a comprehensive overhaul, our infrastructure is decayed and inadequate, and practically, every sector requires urgent redress,” he said.

He called on citizens of the State to be patient as he address the challenges head-on. “I must mention that there are no quick fix solutions to these challenges, but one thing is certain, we are prepared to take the challenges head-on and we will hit the ground running immediately.”

Niger Gov’t Debt Profile Stands at N126.9bn

The immediate past Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello left a debt profile of over N126.9 billion to his successor, Hon Mohammed Umar Bago.

DAILY ASSET gathered that the debt figures obtained by the State Debt Management Office may actually be more than the quoted figures.

Findings reveals that, as at September 2022, Niger State external debt stock  stood at N 28, 726, 072, 780.86k while the domestic debt profile stands at  N98,  262, 195, 557, 88k.

The datas obtained from the Niger State debt management office reveals that the total debt stock of the State stood at   N126, 988, 268, 338, 74k by the end of September 2022.

Sources however disclosed to our Correspondent that the debt burden of the State may be more than  the official figures  as between September last year when the last figures were complied and May 29th when the Abubakar Sani Bello administration exited power it incurred more loans.

It was also discovered that, most of the domestic debt profile is due to the backlog of arrears of pension and gratuity liability of retired State and local government staffs.

The bulk of the external debt was incured as a result of the developmental bonds obtained by the past administration from foreign partners like the Islamic development bank and some multilateral agencies.

Ishaku Leaves N200bn Debts

From Taraba State, the newly sworn-in Governor, Kefas Agbu, has inherited a debt of over N200 billion left behind by the immediate past administration of Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku.

Apart from Ishaku’s alleged inability to implement the new National minimum wage of N30,000.00, pensioners, and workers all have different forms of woes to narrate.

Besides the government’s inability to pay pensioners their gratuities which has accumulated to several billions of Naira, over 1,000 of the retirees were also reportedly not adequately captured for the past eight years in the state.

State Chairman of the Nigerian Pensioners Union (NUP), Silas Jafta, and its Secretary, Yohanna Ajiya, said, Ishaku’s alleged refusal to attend to the plights of pensioners, the has “sent some of our colleagues to our colleagues to the Great Beyond.”

N241bn in Kano

In Kano State, the immediate past administration of Abdullahi Ganduje left behind a debt profile of N241 billion for the government of Aba Gida Gida.

In his speech, Ganduje said that his administration collected N1. 2 trillion in the last eight years and spent the amount, leaving behind a total of about N241 billion in debt, made up of loans, contractual obligations, and others.

Cross River State

Newly sworn-in Cross Rivers State Governor, Bassey Out has inherited N175,198,799,155.96 and $215,754,975.33 from his predecessor, Prof Ben Ayade.

Delta State

Former Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa left behind a whooping N272,612,510,528.95 total domestic debt and $60,046,972.41 foreign debt for his successor, Sheriff Oborevwori in Delta State.

Other are Oyetola of Osun State, who left a debt burden of N407 billion to his successor; Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, who left behind $577.32m, N64.54 billion debt in the state to the government of Uba Sani; while former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu left a N200 billion debt for successor, Alex Otti.