Katsina State government’s decision to seek bailout was informed by its desire to settle outstanding pension and gratuities, the state governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari, has said.
Recently, the governor had come under criticism from people who contended that the bailout was unnecessary as the state is not among those owing salaries.
Masari said at an interactive session with stakeholders that in as much as no salary was owed, the state was heavily indebted to retirees whose pensions and gratuities were unpaid.
According to him, both the state and its 34 local government areas were owing about N11 billion pensions and gratuity of workers. ‘It is our intention to use the funds to clear this inherited backlog,” the governor said.
He added that the CBN had already acknowledged their request and his administration was committed to ensuring that it got the funds and settled the pensioners.
The Katsina State governior described lack of proper planing and misapplication of resources by successive governments as having greatly stunted the growth and prosperity of the state.
Speaking at an interactive session with stakeholders, Masari said, it was shameful and disgraceful the decline witnessed over the years, giving the state’s past status as the economic and educational nerve center of the North.
“Misapplication of resources in the past has greatly contributed to our present predicaments. Money which ought to have been used was spent on non-productive centres. Our hospitals, schools, water supply are left in sorry state,” Masari said, adding, “the rot inherited from the immediate past is alarming and cut across all spheres of endeavours.”
He said that a change of direction was being evolved to chart a new course for the state, adding that his government was committed to ensuring that quality leadership was provided to reverse the trend of affairs in the state.
Source:Daily Trust
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