Sure-P: Kaduna APC legislators accuse Yero of looting

May 16, 2015

Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero
| credits: File copy

The All Progressives Congress caucus in the Kaduna State House of Assembly has accused the outgoing Governor Mukhtar Yero of last-minute looting of the state’s treasury.

The lawmakers alleged a plot by Yero to defraud the state of N2.744bn Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme fund.

They described as “an act of last minute looting,” Yero’s decision to appropriate the 2014 Sure-P funds for the 24 Local Government Areas.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Friday, the House Deputy Minority Leader, Dr. Aminu Abdullahi-Shagali, said it was also an act of criminality for the governor to earmark 50 per cent of the money for road projects.

He explained that the request submitted by the governor to the House earlier in the week was improper and violated laid down regulations regarding the Sure-P funds.

Our correspondent gathered that the funds had already been indicated in the handing over notes of the Peoples Democratic Party government in the state.

Shagali said if the House should approve the request, there would be no way the local government areas could judiciously execute any project before the May 29, when the life of the government would terminate.

He said, “We find it absolutely necessary to address the people of Kaduna State through the media. Ordinarily by this period of the month when handing over notes of the outgoing government has been received and incoming government is preparing its inauguration, we should not be concerned with anything.

“However, the attempt of the outgoing government to quickly appropriate and disbursed the Sure-P to the 23 LGAs is last-minute looting and squandering of public funds.

“A request submitted this week by the executive arm to the House of Assembly to appropriate the 2014 Sure-P funds of the 23 LGAs to the tune of N7.744b is not only improper, but gross financial recklessness.

“There is no how a local government council can judiciously execute any meaningful project within two weeks considering the fact that diligent due process and financial regulations have to be followed.

“Even though an attempt was made to discuss the issue and pass it, a resolution was made during an executive session that the fund should not be appropriated and disbursed.

“We, the concerned members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, hereby wish to state categorically that we are not a party and will not be a party to such financial recklessness.”