Omotayo Adigun
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, provided a stark assessment of the state’s condition upon his assumption of office, describing it as a “mess in every aspect,” while outlining the steps his administration has taken to address deep-rooted challenges including insecurity, debt, and collapsing public services.
He made these remarks during an interview on Arise TV on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Governor Lawal stated that when he succeeded former governor Bello Matawalle, Zamfara faced critical issues across the board.
“When I took over as a governor, Zamfara State was in a mess in every aspect of life, be it security at the highest level, education at the bottom, healthcare at the bottom, human development capacity almost non-existent,” he said, noting this prompted him to declare emergencies in education and healthcare.
He cited a five-month lack of running water, which his administration resolved within three days, as an example of the dire situation.
Detailing the severe financial constraints inherited, Lawal revealed the state treasury held only N4 million alongside massive liabilities. These included a backlog of four and a half months of unpaid salaries, N1.6 billion owed to the judiciary, N1.6 billion owed to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and N1.4 billion owed to the National Examinations Council (NECO). He also highlighted a staggering N16.5 billion in unpaid pension arrears dating back to 2011.
The governor detailed immediate actions taken to stabilize the state’s finances and welfare.
“The first thing I did was to clear the backlog of those salaries,” he stated.
Agreements were reached with WAEC and NECO to settle debts, allowing students to sit for exams and collect previously withheld certificates. He significantly increased the state’s minimum wage from the inherited N7,000, eventually raising it to N70,000, while also confirming that the N16.5 billion pension backlog since 2011 was fully cleared as of March 2025.
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In the education sector, following the declared emergency, Lawal reported that over 400 schools across the state’s 40 local government areas have been fully renovated and furnished. Additionally, scholarship debts for Zamfara students studying abroad in Sudan and India have been settled, with efforts ongoing for those in Cyprus.
Addressing the persistent issue of insecurity, Governor Lawal claimed tangible improvements.
“In the past, we were hearing that 100 or 200 people were being killed daily, but you hardly hear of that now,” he asserted.
While acknowledging a recent abduction incident in Tsafe, he disputed reports that as many as 60 people were taken.
He emphasized that his administration is making “conscious efforts” to reduce the decade-long security challenges, partly through a state security outfit established upon his taking office, which he stated is performing effectively. “Things are changing for the better,” he concluded.