FIC Report (Nasarawa State) – Governor ABDULLAHI SULE of Nasarawa State has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for introducing fiscal policies that free state governors across the country from borrowing Bank loans to funds Projects.
Governor Sule made this known when the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Health Services, led by its Chairman, Hon. Amos Magaji Gwamna, who paid him a visit during an oversight function on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund in the state recently, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resource management strategy for this new era of financial independence.
The Governor disclosed that a bank recently approached his administration offering a significant loan at the Central Bank’s interest rate for a major project, an offer he promptly declined, stressing that it is as a result of the unprecedented financial stability directly by President Tinubu’s decision to channel resources directly to subnational governments following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
According to him, president had earlier directed that the money should go to the individual sub nationals, states, and local government areas so as to hold them responsible for managing the resources, maint that; “That is the reason today why states are managing without borrowing anything from anybody.”
The Governor recalled that president Tinubu subsidy removal policies was different from the previous subsidy removal schemes by the past administration, stressing that, “When Asiwaju did his own, that is when there is real money. Because all those times there wasn’t much money… But they were able to manage the resources prudently.”
According to him, all the projects work being executed by his administration were done with the resources received from federal government as well as the state internally generated revenue without borrowing from any external body.
“Every work that you have seen that we have done in Nasarawa State, we did not borrow one naira to do them. But the credit doesn’t just go down to A. A Sule and his administration. We must commend President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for what he is doing as far as managing resources is concerned,” he said.
While receiving the committee’s findings and recommendations, Governor Sule advocated for the adoption of the Universal Basic Education Commission system (UBEC) by ensure that state government pays for counterpart fund before funds were pays to them in order ensure compliance with the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
“I think part of your recommendation is to say that any state that wants funding must pay the counterpart fund first. I think if you make that kind of recommendation, every state will take it more seriously” he stated.
He commended members of the House of Representatives Committee on Health for embarking on oversight visit, pointed out, that the gesture is a break from the past where such exercises were done not for the purpose of reforms.
He assured the committee that though, the state government in the health care services as been confirm by the committee, but the his administration is working hard to ensure the health care services meet up the health Care services standard requirements.
Earlier in his remarked, the Leader of the delegation and Chairman, Federal House of Representatives Committee on Health Services, Hon. Amos Magaji Gwamna, Commended Nasarawa state government for the quality of healthcare delivery services while advocating for the proper utilization of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund nationwide.
He explained that the committee were going the states to carry out oversight function to see on how funds meant for developing health care services are properly utilized.
“We are here as members of the committee on healthcare services and to oversight the basic healthcare provision fund. As you are aware, the basic healthcare provision fund took effect from 2020, with the mandate to strengthen the health system, especially at the grassroots level in Nigeria. Since its implementation, no committee has over sighted the processes, disbursement, and utilization of the funds. We deem it fit to move around to see what is happening and to see the lessons we will learn from this,” he said.
He said the committee visited had several primary healthcare center’s in the state, adding that even though there were areas where the state is doing well, there are other areas that require strengthening.
The committee chairman commends Governor Sule for the good work he has done in transforming the state within the period he assumed office, “when we entered the secretariat, many people said Nasarawa is working. There has been a remarkable transformation in Nasarawa State. We believe that with that step and what you have done, you have repositioned and realigned Nasarawa State to be one of the greatest states in the North and, of course, Nigeria.
He said that governor did not only transforming the state, but organized environment and organized civil service.
“We could see excellence exhibited, and then the way things are being conducted here, you have done great work transforming the state. Not only the environment but also the civil service”.
Signed
SOLOMON MUNDUNG
EO (I&PRO).
EDITED BY
ARI, LIMAN AMINU.
HEAD OF CENTRE,
FIC, LAFIA.
