By Suzan Edeh

Bauchi—Governor of Bauchi State, Muhammed Abubakar has said that his administration  inherited external and domestic debts totalling over N125 billion from the outgoing administration of Mallam Isa Yuguda in the state.

Abubakar spoke in his maiden broadcast to the people of the state yesterday, adding that domestic loan amounted to N48.7 billion , while foreign loan inherited is $87 million (about N18.9 billion).

A breakdown of the liabilities include contractual liabilities – N41.6 billion;  retired workers’ gratuity arrears – N7.7 billion and gratuity arrears for local government workers- N6.9 billion. Apart from these debts, salary arrears for civil servants from January 2015 to date amounted to N1.7 billion.

The governor said that from available records so far, a total of N864 billion excluding ecological fund accrued to the  state in the last eight years.

He said that his administration would give top priority to agriculture, education, health, water, tourism among other social sectors for the progress of the state.

Abubakar who assured his administration’s determination to ensure the availability of fertilizers for farmers in the state, said currently the state had  less than 1,800 tonnes of the commodity which was grossly inadequate for the next farming season.

On last year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, the governor said his administration would pay the outstanding N572 million accommodation subsidy for pilgrims which it inherited, while unpaid workers salaries would also be settled soon.

He said that his government needed N5.2 billion to settle workers salaries for April and May, 2015. He announced the dissolution of all local government caretaker committees and all boards of government parastatals with immediate effect. Abubakar then asked the former local government caretaker committee chairmen to hand over affairs of their councils to heads of personnel of the local governments.