The Zamfara Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Auta, has said that the state has not collected a single loan from any local or international financial institutions from the inception of Gov Dauda Lawal’s administration to date.
Auta represented by the Accountant-General of the state, Ali Akilu Muhammad disclosed this in Gusau on Thursday at the presentation of 2025 Citizens Accountability Reports of the state.
The event was organised by the state ministry of finance had participants from traditional and religious leaders, NGOs ,CSOs, MDAs, the media among others.
The Commissioner maintained that Gov Dauda Lawal since his assumption in office as governor of the state has not taken any domestic or external loans.
“This is part of the present administration’s commitments to ensure transparency and accountability in governance,” he said.
He noted that the essence of citizens accountability reports, is to review on incomes and expenditures of government.
“This is to explained the incomes we received and how we utilise the money, to encourage transparency in financial management.
“That is why, we encourage the citizens to participate and know the actual government’s spendings on people’s oriented projects,” he noted.
Auta further said that the present administration since its inception has been working on Treasury Single Account (TSA), and “we are restricted and committed to that”.
“Zamfara like other states received additional money from the Federal government as a result of the removal of oil subsidy.
“In Zamfara the additional oil subsidy money is being utilised judiciously, under Gov Lawal’s administration.
“I think every citizen of the state is aware of the rapid development we recorded in Zamfara within three years of Gov Dauda Lawal’s administration,” he added.
He further said that in the 2025, a total of N325.9 billion was collected by the state, and the sources of funds was the FG allocation, grants, Internally Generated Revenue, taxes and other capital resources.
“Out of the money, 32 per cent was spent on payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities while over 50 per cent was spent on capital projects cut across education, health, security among others.
“Our expenditure covers 80 per cent of the income,” he explained.
The commissioner further said that the cost of managing insecurity remains the major project taking largest share of Zamfara government’s incomes.
Despite the much spendings on security, the present administration executed large number of projects across the state in education, healthcare, urban renewal and empowerment including in state capital and 14 local government areas of the state.
“All the projects we have done is out of the incomes we are received and managed judiciously.
“As the governor said recently, in every LGA he executed multi-billion Naira projects.
“My office is available for any body to confirm the N20 bn projects executed in each LGA of the state.
“We are ready to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.
“Therefore, the governor was right, when he said in every LGA of the state, he executed over N20bn projects.
He assured of the state government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Muhammad Sani Marafa said the gathering was aimed to ensure inclusion and open governance.
“This is to ensure citizens’ participation as regards to financial management and community based financial services in the state.
He commended Gov Lawal administrations’ commitments in ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
“I want to appreciate the development partners for supporting the state government’s policies on accountability,” he added
Auta called on the participants to take the advantage of the session in order to encourage government to enhance service delivery.
Also speaking, the State Auditor-General Abubakar Danmaliki commended Gov Lawal’s administration for giving his office opportunity to operate independently without interference
He said the audit is not to witch-hunts any body but to ensure transparency and accountability for the betterment of the state.
“The constitutional duties of my office to ensure that every single kobo spend by Zamfara government is accountable,” he explained.
“Recently, I presented Audit Report of the state for year, 2025, we noticed some challenges on the remittance by some MDAs,” he explained.
He called on MDAs to continue to adhere to financial policies and guidelines inline with the international standards.
He urged citizens to participate and monitor government’s financial spendings.
In their separate remarks, various participants of the event and stakeholders commended present administration in the state for executing various communities-based projects across the state.