‘I’ve Been Receiving Half Salary Since I Became Governor’ – Sani

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has disclosed he has been receiving half of his salary since resuming office on May 29, 2023.

Sani made this known in a video obtained by Daily Trust in Kaduna on Wednesday.

The Governor said N4.7 billion is being deducted monthly from the state government’s federal allocation to offset the debt inherited from the previous administration.

According to Sani, his commissioners’ performance bonuses and salaries, including that of the Deputy Governor, have also been reduced as part of efforts to cut governance costs and make sacrifices due to the state’s financial challenges.

He stated that his administration was doing everything possible to manage resources, given the debt inherited from the previous administration.

Sani added that he preferred not to complain about these issues, believing that governance is about continuity.

He said, “In Kaduna, we are paying N4.7 billion in debt every month; go and check and see our allocation. You will agree with me that we started paying this debt in June 2023. Currently, what we are receiving is about N8 billion, while we should be receiving around N12 billion compared to what other states are getting within Northern Nigeria.

“We are trying our best to manage what we have. Yes, I agree with you that governance is about reducing costs. Since I became governor, I have maintained that we have not purchased a single vehicle for anyone—whether myself, the Deputy Governor, or my commissioners. We have also reduced the performance bonuses and salaries of our commissioners and the Deputy Governor. Today, I am only receiving half of my salary because we have to make sacrifices, considering the challenges we face.

“People may ask about our IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). Our IGR account is with Zenith Bank; you can check it. Every month, Zenith Bank deducts about N800 million at source because I inherited that debt.”