Taraba Commissioners Grumble As State Excos Approves Fresh N18.2bn Loan From Access Bank

·         Loan Memo Passed To Assembly For Approval

Many cabinet members on Friday grumbled after a memo for fresh loan of N18.2 billion was presented at a state Executive Council Meeting, Taraba Truth and Facts exclusively gathered.

Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku represented at the State Executive Council presented a memo to seek fresh 18.3bn loan from Access Bank for deliberation with cabinet members.  

Many commissioners who attended the State Executive Council were dismayed by the request of the governor to seek another despite public outcry against rising debt profile of the state without corresponding developments.

A source who attended the State Executive Council told Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper that although the Commissioners were not happy; the memo was approved and sent to the State House of Assembly for approval.

"Many commissioners left the meeting wearing sad faces, they were helpless and could not confront the memo since it was coming from the Governor but they were not happy with it. Moreso the state will give Access Bank N1.2bn as charges and will only be credited with N17bn. The Memo has been passed to the State House of Assembly; we are worried that the lawmakers will approve the loan before the end of the year."

Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper had last week report public outcry against numerous loans collected by the Governor Ishaku's administration in the last six years.

 Several residents in the state believed Governor Ishaku planting a time bomb and trap for whosoever becomes the next governor, "this administration is piling up loans for the unborn generation and there is nothing to compliment it."

A policy expert, Yakubu Yohanna said the government should focus on reducing the state debt burden rather than taking more loans in the new year.

  "This government is winding up next year so this administration will not pay these loans but will further take more loans and the Assembly has been reduced to a rubber stamp for passing the budget that clearly states that Governor Ishaku will take more loans, they have worked against the people who elected them. The people are tired of government taking loans without corresponding developments, despite all the loans taken earlier by Governor Ishaku, where are the infrastructures, gratuity is not paid, so what are these loans being used for? It's a shame Taraba Assembly will allow this governor takes more loan in the new year," Yohanna said.