Governor Dauda Lawal has made a startling revelation concerning the financial state of Zamfara State at the time of his assumption of office, claiming that he inherited a mere N4 million in the government’s coffers along with overwhelming liabilities from his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, who currently serves as a minister under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking during a public engagement on governance and accountability in Gusau, Governor Lawal expressed dismay at the dire state of Zamfara’s finances when he took over in May 2023. According to him, the financial mismanagement and debt burden left by the previous administration presented enormous challenges to his efforts in rebuilding the state.
“When I assumed office, Zamfara State had only N4 million in its account – just N4 million – while the liabilities ran into hundreds of billions. It was shocking,” Governor Lawal said. “We inherited an almost collapsed system with decaying infrastructure, unpaid salaries, and a deeply demoralized civil service.”
Governor Lawal emphasized his administration’s commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility, noting that despite the difficult start, reforms are underway to stabilize the state’s finances, attract investment, and restore public trust.
The governor also called for an independent audit of the previous administration’s financial activities, asserting that the people of Zamfara deserve to know how their resources were managed.
“This is not about politics. It is about accountability. Our people deserve the truth and justice,” he added.
Bello Matawalle, the former governor and current Minister of State for Defence, has not publicly responded to the allegations as of the time of this release.