The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kebbi State has defended the financial record of Governor Nasir Idris’ administration, dismissing questions raised by the African Democratic Congress, ADC, over the management of the state’s resources.
The APC said the concerns raised by the opposition party about the implementation of the 2025 budget and differences between projected and actual revenue and expenditure did not reflect the projects carried out by the state government.
The party’s Acting Chairman, Adamu Mudi Augi, spoke to journalists at the APC secretariat in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, where he listed several projects executed by the administration across different sectors.
He mentioned the ongoing dualisation of the Birnin Kebbi-Ambursa Road, renovation of schools and the establishment of science and skills boarding schools among the projects carried out by the government.
According to him, the administration has also provided textbooks and recruited teachers as part of efforts to improve education in the state.
In the health sector, Augi said the government had upgraded hospitals and primary healthcare centres, while additional health workers had also been employed.
He also pointed to the construction of the 250-unit Kauran Gwandu Housing Estate as part of the government’s efforts to provide housing for residents.
The APC chairman said agriculture had also received attention under the current administration. He listed the distribution of fertiliser, improved seeds and solar-powered irrigation pumps to farmers as some of the measures taken to support agricultural activities.
The APC’s response came after the ADC questioned the implementation of Kebbi’s N580.33 billion budget for 2025 and sought explanations over the gap between the revenue and expenditure projections and the actual figures recorded.
The state government had earlier rejected allegations of financial mismanagement, explaining that the difference between expected and actual revenue was caused by funds that were not realised rather than money that had gone missing.
The government also said it adjusted its spending plans because of the revenue shortfall and spent close to N240 billion during the year.
Of the amount spent, more than N152 billion was reportedly directed to capital projects across the state.
Reacting to the ADC’s concerns, Augi urged the opposition party to assess the administration based on its policies, projects and impact on residents.
He maintained that the people of Kebbi could assess the government’s performance by looking at the development projects and programmes being carried out across the state.
The APC therefore challenged the ADC to focus its criticism on the actual performance of the government rather than drawing conclusions from differences between projected figures and revenue eventually received.