By Taiye Agbaje
Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara said the state he inherited was bankrupt when he took over power.
Lawal stated this on Wednesday evening at an interactive session with Zamfara professionals in Abuja.
“I believe in the history of our state, this is the first time where professionals and people of Zamfara State are here to interact.
“I am delighted to hear some of the comments made. It is indeed incredible.
“The Zamfara State we inherited is in a bad state. At the time we took over, Zamfara was bankrupt with nothing left.
“It is a state where we inherited so many bad things,” the governor stated while responding to questions and comments from professionals from the state.
The governor, however, gave assurance that things were going to change for better.
Lawal added that he inherited three-month salary backlog with no single money to take care of the civil servants.
According to him, as at the time he took over, the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) exam was already over and the children were unable to sit for it.
“Fortunately for us, NECO (National Examinations Council) is about to start and if we did not do anything, the children may not write the exam,” he stated.
The governor noted that though the state was owing WAEC about N1.6 billion and NECO about N1.4 billion which had made the students to be unable to sit for the exams in the past, his government had recently paid off NECO’s debt.
“This is something that is verifiable. Outside security, education is key because without education, we are going no where,” he said.
He said his government had commenced reconstruction of primary schools and building the capacity of the teachers to boost their productivity.
He revealed that when he came in, Zamfara had 28 ministries which had now been reduced to 16 ministries.
The governor, who lamented over the condition of the hospitals in the state, said he was committed to change all the narratives.
He, therefore, solicited for the professionals’ support in order to build the state in the interest of the people.
Lawal said as part of the efforts to tackling the security challenge in the state, he met with the chief of defence staff, the chief of army staff and the national security adviser on different occasions yesterday.
He said he also met with officials of the European Union and the World Bank on issues of insecurity, education, health and infrastructural development, and that they were ever ready to provide support.
“I appeal to you to be our ambassador, that in everything you do, Zamfara comes first. We can’t do it alone. We need the support of all to change the fortune of Zamfara State. I want to appeal to all to keep praying for peace and prosperity for our dear state. I am open for discussion, I am open for advice and collectively, we shall build a better Zamfara,” the governor stated.
Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, congratulated the governor on his election victory.
According to him, the federal government is ready to assist Zamfara state in whatever capacity.
Shinkafi, who said cooperation is in two ways, said: “when we call on you, try and listen to us.”
He gave assurance that the federal civil servants from the state would remain apolitical.
The Grand Khadi of FCT, Alhaji Ibrahim Rufai-Imam, urged the people of Zamfara to be lovers of one another irrespective of local government of origin.
“Let us unite and see how we can move the state forward. We need to continue praying for the state to come out of the present predicament,” Ibrahim stated.
Some of the professionals at the meeting also offered advice on issues of insecurity, youth empowerment, education, agriculture, among others.
