Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal claims he inherited just ₦4 million and major debts when he took office. He’s since raised salaries, cleared pension arrears, revived schools, and improved security. Lawal says his administration is turning around a failing system through rapid reforms in education, finance, and public welfare.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has revealed the extent of the financial and institutional decay he inherited upon taking office, stating that he found only ₦4 million in the state treasury and a massive burden of unpaid debts and salaries.
In a recent interview, Lawal described the state of Zamfara when he assumed office as “deeply broken,” citing widespread insecurity, collapsed education and health systems, and a staggering backlog of financial obligations. According to him, the water supply had been unavailable for months, and civil servants were earning as low as ₦7,000 monthly.
To address the crisis, Lawal said he swiftly declared a state of emergency in both the education and health sectors, increased workers’ minimum wage to ₦30,000, and took urgent steps to clear owed salaries and pensions — including unpaid pensions dating back to 2011, which totaled over ₦16 billion.
He disclosed that educational institutions had been in disrepair, with dilapidated buildings and stalled scholarship payments. His administration has since renovated over 400 schools and resolved outstanding debts with national exam bodies such as WAEC and NECO, ensuring Zamfara students were once again eligible to sit exams and receive their certificates.
The governor also addressed security concerns, explaining that although incidents persist, including a recent attack in Tsafe, the frequency and severity of violence have reduced significantly under his leadership. He credited this progress to the creation of a local security outfit dedicated to improving safety in rural and urban communities.
