Kano Governor-elect Warns Against New Loans For State Govt

Kano State governor-elect Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf has warned individuals and organisations,  carrying out private constructions domestic and international lenders against giving new loans to the state government.

In a statement by his spokesman, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, he warned lenders not to give loans to the outgoing governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, without the consent of the incoming administration.

He said whoever gives such facility to the outgoing administration does so at his or her own risk as his administration would not honour such loans

Yusuf directed that an advisory be issued to all subsisting and prospective lenders to the state government that effective from March 18 to May 29, no lender (domestic or international) should approve or issue any loan facility to Kano State government without the express consent of the incoming administration, adding that any such loan between the date of election and date of swearing-in without explicit knowledge and consent of the incoming administration would not be honoured by the new administration.

“All subsisting lenders to the Kano State government should take note that all terms and conditions for all existing loan facilities shall be renegotiated by the new administration guided by the utilisation audit/review of each facility,” he said.

Meanwhile, the governor-elect has unveiled a 65-member transition committee.

This is contained in a Statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, his chief press secretary at the weekend.

The statement said the former executive secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund the (TETFUND) and NNPP 2023 senatorial candidate for Kano North, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi was appointed chairman of the Gubernatorial Transition Committee (GTC) while a retired permanent secretary, Abdullahi Musa, will serve as secretary.

Other members were also appointed to assist in a successful transition.

In another development, the current state government has advised the governor-elect to exercise patience and avoid issuing official pronouncements in form of public advisory in order not to cause unnecessary confusion in the state.

A statement issued by the commissioner for information and internal affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba in a reaction to a directive issued from the office of the governor-elect, warning individuals, groups and organisations undertaking construction on public places to keep off said the action of the governor-elect amounted  to jumping the gun on a matter affecting government’s laid down policy while the incumbent is yet to run his full term.

He said as far as the division of powers is concerned as enshrined in the constitution Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remains the governor with executive powers until May 29 and reserves the right to carry out his functions in public interest even on the eve of his exit.