The Zamfara State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on Governor Dauda Lawal to provide a comprehensive and verifiable account of capital projects executed across the 14 Local Government Areas of the state since the commencement of the present administration.
This was contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Monday, signed by the State ADC Chairman, Kabiru Garba Gusau.
“As citizens of Zamfara State and stakeholders in the political development of our dear State, we believe that government must be accountable to the people.
“Public resources belong to the people, and citizens have the right to know how such resources are being utilized and what tangible benefits they are receiving from government expenditure.
“I carefully listened to the Governor’s recent statement regarding the administration’s investment of more than ₦20 billion in capital projects in each Local Government Area,” Garba said.
“If this figure is accurate, it represents a very significant public investment and deserves to be properly documented and explained to the people of Zamfara State.
“Therefore, on behalf of the ADC Zamfara State Chapter, I respectfully challenge the government to provide the people with a clear breakdown of these investments.
“Apart from Gusau Local Government Area, can the State Government identify at least five major capital projects executed in each of the remaining 13 Local Government Areas,” he explained.
According to the statement: “these are legitimate questions that should not be viewed as political attacks”.
Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration has now spent approximately three years in office.
“People of Zamfara State therefore deserve to understand clearly what has been achieved across the State during this period.
“We acknowledge that Gusau, as the State capital, has received visible attention and development interventions,” he added.
He noted that Zamfara State is made up of 14 Local Government Areas, and the citizens living outside the State capital also deserve equal attention from government.
“We therefore, call on the Governor to present a comprehensive scorecard highlighting the administration’s major achievements in the remaining 13 LGAs.
“Our position is simple: if more than ₦20 billion has truly been invested in capital projects in each Local Government Area, then the evidence should be available and easily presented to the people.
“The people of Zamfara are not asking for political rhetoric. They are asking for facts, figures, locations, project names, costs and measurable outcomes”, he further said
Garba added that government should not only tell citizens how much money has been spent; it should also demonstrate what the money has produced and how the lives of ordinary citizens have improved as a result.
“As politicians and citizens, our responsibility is to ask questions on behalf of the people.
“Therefore asking questions about public expenditure does not mean opposition to development. Rather, it is part of the democratic process and a necessary mechanism for ensuring transparency and accountability.
“We therefore, call on His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, and the Zamfara State Government to publish a comprehensive 14-LGA capital projects and expenditure scorecard covering the period of this administration.
“The people deserve to know what is being done with their resources, where it is being done, how much is being spent, and what impact those investments are having on their lives.
“As the Zamfara State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), I will continue to advocate for transparency, accountability, equitable development and responsible governance in the interest of all citizens of Zamfara State,” statement further said.