Adamawa state government borrowings are for development projects — Fintiri’s aide Kumangar
The Director-General media to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa state says borrowings by the Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri-led State Government are to finance development projects in the state.
Mr Solomon Kummngar, Special aide to the governor said this in a statement in Yola on Monday.
Kumangar was reacting to criticism by the All Progressive Congress in Adamawa (APC) on the development.
He explained that the borrowed money was being used to develop critical infrastructure to stimulate economic growth, generate jobs, reduce poverty and improve the general well-being of Adamawa citizens.
He said that unlike in the past, the recent borrowings were designed to finance the deficit in the 2021 budget.
He added that the borrowings was to ensure the realisation of the Adamawa state Economic Sustainability Plan that touched key sectors of the economy.
Kumangar said this included infrastructure development, boosting healthcare services, strengthening agriculture to deepen food security, more youth’s empowerment and continued tackling the COVID-19 global pandemic.
He said from the forgone, it was clear that the borrowing was hinged on genuine needs and based on the necessity to strengthen the foundation of the state economy.
He added that it was also to achieve the desired primary purpose of the government of uplifting the living standard of the people.
“It was in APC’s era that loans for funding basic infrastructure and empowerments were misappropriated and diverted to private pockets.
“And the borrowed money ultimately found its way to the pockets of cronies, friends and family members of the administration’s officials.
“The state is still servicing over hundred billion naira loans taken by Fintiri’s predecessors in office.
“Adamawa citizens should also reflect and recall that the APC had in its 4 years of misrule pushed the state into a dark ditch of insolvency, and a period in which most local governments could not pay workers’ salaries,” he said.
He noted that under the APC administration, state and local governments struggle to pay salaries of workers compared to now that salaries are paid on the 25th of every month.
He said the administration also embarked on large-scale infrastructure development projects that stimulated the economy and exited the era of insolvency and mismanagement caused by APC in Adamawa for four years
Kumangar said the PDP welcomed the continued and multi-partisan cooperation which existed between the executive and legislature on state issues.
According to him, this will ensure good governance, particularly in the area of economic development, adding that the state and citizens are the ultimate beneficiaries.