Gov Lawal Claims He Inherited Empty Treasury From Predecessor Matawalle

Gov Lawal Claims He Inherited Empty Treasury From Predecessor Matawalle

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has revealed that his administration inherited an empty treasury from former Governor Bello Matawalle. During an interview on Channels TV’s *Politics Today*, Lawal disclosed that over ₦250 billion was unaccounted for when he assumed office.

Lawal criticized the previous administration’s financial mismanagement, noting that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier alleged that ₦70 billion was missing. However, after further investigation, Lawal stated, “₦70 billion was a child’s play,” compared to the larger unaccounted sum of ₦250 billion.

He also revealed the dire state of the government’s finances, mentioning that there was no ₦4 million in the state’s account when he took over. Additionally, he highlighted a backlog of unpaid salaries for four months and the fact that no Zamfara indigene had written the WAEC or NECO exams in three years due to financial constraints.

Lawal’s administration has since cleared ₦1.3 billion for NECO and ₦1.6 billion for WAEC, enabling students to finally obtain their certificates. The governor pledged to restore the state’s functionality and improve governance despite the significant financial challenges.