The ex-government officials, who addressed newsmen in Abuja, also called on Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State to tackle the rising insecurity or face impeachment if the security situation in the state continued to deteriorate.
Two former commissioners in Zamfara State under the Bello Matawalle’s administration have reacted to an alleged missing N70billion under the former governor, noting that the funds were with the local governments and the state government.
The ex-government officials, who addressed newsmen in Abuja, also called on Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State to tackle the rising insecurity or face impeachment if the security situation in the state continued to deteriorate.
The former commissioner of finance and economic planning, Rabiu Garba, and Ibrahim Dosara, former commissioner of information, said the state governor since May 29 had also allegedly embarked on extra budgetary spending without the approval of the State House of Assembly.
Garba said, "The governor awarded a contract that is not in the budget. A budget primarily is a source document where works and services of government are going to be rendered. A budget is an act of the state assembly which the governor violated.
"He awarded the contract that was not in the budget. There was no evidence that the contract awarded was budgeted for because I have a copy of the budget.
"There was no virement to support the contracts that were awarded. There was no evidence that the virement had been received by the State House of Assembly and even, if there is, the state assembly had not attended to that issue, therefore, he was engaged in extra budgetary spending, which is an impeachable offence and we call on them to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor."
He said the state government terminated the contract of a company and asked it to return N4.5billion.
"The company's contract has been terminated and the company was asked to refund N4.5billion for work allegedly not done. It is not true that money was paid without due process. They have revoked the contract illegally and it was awarded to friends and cronies of government.
"The contract was initially awarded for about N25billion and has now been jacked up to N50billion after the contract of the company was terminated. The company has taken the state government to court.
"As far as the former government of the state is concerned, we will not talk about it again. The contractor has the right to challenge termination of contract since it was duly signed and awarded.
"The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) went to banks and asked about the contract we executed. The Court stopped them from further investigation because it didn’t have jurisdiction as it related to the state fund.
"The issue of N70billion does not arise because N30billion is for the 14 local governments and the remaining N40billion is for the state government.”
Dosara, on his part, decried the insecurity that had been on the increase since the present administration came into office on May 29.
"Since May 29 when this government came into power, unnecessary IDPs camps have been created. The primary responsibility of protecting lives and property has not been attended to. He should face governance and not allegations that cannot be substantiated,” Dosara said.