- The PRP requested details on monthly salaries and allowances of top state officials and political appointees since the 2019 administration.
- It also demanded information on the cost of luxury SUVs presented to six first-class Emirs and details of the procurement company.
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi, has demanded details on the state government’s financial dealings since 2019.
The party requested information on debts, allocations, interventions, and expenditures.
The party’s requests were contained in a letter sent to the state’s accountant general, citing the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, as the basis for its request.
Hon. Abdulazeez Haruna, PRP State Secretary, signed the letter.
He wrote, “I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing on behalf of the Bauchi State Chapter of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) to request certain information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011.”
The letter reads, “As a responsible political party and citizens’ watchdog, we are concerned about the transparency and accountability of the Bauchi State Government’s financial activities.”
“In line with our commitment to promoting good governance and transparency, we are writing to request information on the following: As of August 2024, what is the total amount of domestic and foreign debts owed by Bauchi State?
Please provide a breakdown of the debt profile, including details of the creditors, outstanding balances, nature of the debts, interest rates, and repayment schedules,” it added.
According to the PRP, “From June 2019 to date, what is the total amount borrowed by Bauchi State? Please provide a breakdown of the borrowing amounts year by year.
How much has Bauchi State serviced out of the amount borrowed from June 2019 to date? Please provide a breakdown of the servicing amounts year by year.”
The party also seeks information on the total amount of monthly allocations received from statutory federal funds, with a monthly breakdown from June 2019 to the present, stressing that, “We would like to know the specific projects or programs for which these allocations were disbursed and the recipients.”
It further demanded information on the total amount of financial interventions received from the Federal Government and other institutions from June 2019 to August 2024, including details of the specific interventions, projects, or programs that these funds were used for.
Additionally, it added, “We would like to know the total amount that Bauchi State is spending monthly on salaries for civil and public servants and the total number of civil and public servants in the state.”
The PRP further requested details on the monthly salaries and allowances of the State Governor, Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff – Government House, Commissioners, Advisers, Assistants, and any other political appointees paid by the state government, as well as the total amount owed to pensioners in terms of pensions and gratuities.
Furthermore, the party demanded information on the cost of the luxury Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) presented to the six first-class Emirs in August 2024 and details of the company that handled the procurement (if any).
“We believe that this information is essential for public understanding and scrutiny of the state government’s financial activities.
As a responsible party, we are committed to ensuring that our government is accountable to the people and operates in a transparent and open manner,” the letter emphasized.
The PRP added, “We would appreciate it if you could provide us with this information within seven days of receiving this letter, as required by the Freedom of Information Act.”
It concluded by stating, “Please note that we may need to seek clarification or additional information on certain aspects of our request.
We are committed to working together with your office to ensure that our request is processed efficiently and effectively.”
The letter was copied to the Executive Governor of Bauchi State; the Honourable Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly; the National Chairman, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), National Headquarters, Abuja; the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja; the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Abuja; the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja; the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Abuja; and the Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Abuja.