The Ogun State Government has revealed that the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun left behind a N50bn domestic debt.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Monday, April 5.
According to the governor, the figures given to it by Amosun’s administration did not capture the entire liabilities it left behind when the former governor left office in 2019.
In a statement signed by Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to the Ogun governor; the administration claimed that not less than N50bn in financial liabilities were not accounted for in the financial report handed over to him in May 2019.
The governor’s statement was a reaction to the report by the Debt Management Office.
Specifically, the report revealed that the government incurred N58bn domestic debt within the period of his administration.
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The DMO in the report revealed that the Dapo Abiodun-led administration borrowed N58bn as domestic debt in 18 months.
Indeed, the DMO report which was published on March 15 signified that from June 30, 2019, to December 30, 2020; the Ogun State Government had acquired a total of N58,316,493,347 local debts.
The statement reads partly, “We only got to know about this amount in the course of carrying out due diligence on Ogun State finances shortly after we took over.
“As a transparent government committed to being accountable; we had to disclose this for the first time to give a true picture of the state’s indebtedness.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun has started paying the retirees and pensioners affected; with the first tranche of N500m paid to them last month. Every quarter, the governor has promised to pay them at least N500m until everyone is paid.
“The increase in the 2020 total debt of the state was due to an undisclosed gratuity and staff liabilities of about N50bn; not recognised in the state financial statements in May 2019 at the end of the previous administration.
“In order to show the complete picture of all state liabilities; the current administration booked the gratuities and staff liabilities in the financial statements of the state hence the increase.
“Residents and citizens of the state can attest to how Gov Abiodun is completing all the abandoned projects of his predecessor and commencing signature projects and roads.
“The governor has concentrated on his ‘Building Our Future Together’ with special attention to infrastructure, health, education, and agriculture.
“Also, the welfare and security of the people which are the primary functions of government are equally on the front-burner.”
