The Gombe government has paid about N33 billion from the N100 billion debt inherited from the administration of former Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo.

The chairman of the Gombe State Transition Management Committee, Ibrahim Daudu, disclosed this while submitting the 2023 transition report to Governor Inuwa Yahaya on Monday.

Mr Daudu said the governor paid N6 billion to settle a four-year backlog of gratuities owed retirees from 2014 to 2017. According to him, the payment to retirees is the largest payment of gratuity made by any government in Gombe.

“During the course of our work, we were able to determine that out of over N100 billion in debt inherited from the previous administration, your administration has paid approximately N33 billion,” he said.

The chairman also stated that within the period, the Gombe government attracted N26 billion by implementing the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability programme.

He said that given the state’s prudent resource management, Gombe ranked the country’s fourth most successful state in public financial management.

While commending Mr Yahaya for effectively managing the state’s finances despite the huge economic challenges caused by COVID-19 and economic recession, the Daudu-led committee urged the government to boost the state’s internally generated revenue.

The 11-member committee, inaugurated on May 26, further advised the Gombe government to reform the civil service within the next four years while prioritising job creation.

(NAN)