Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has said the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu are helping state governments execute development projects and meet their salary and pension obligations without taking loans.
The Punch reported that Radda made the remarks on Sunday during the Tinubu/Dikko Assured 2027 Islamiyya Teachers’ Empowerment Programme, the inauguration of a school and the virtual inauguration of 45 solar-powered streetlights in Katsina.
The governor said his administration had completed projects worth more than N30bn without borrowing, describing the achievement as a result of prudent management of the state’s resources.
“Today, there is no sector where we are taking a loan to execute a single project in Katsina State. We are paying pensions and meeting our obligations to the people of Katsina.
“The situation was different in the past when the state depended on borrowing to pay workers’ salaries,” he said.
Radda said the performance of political leaders should be measured by their achievements and tangible results rather than rhetoric or negative political narratives.
“Once leaders make promises to the people, they have a responsibility to fulfil those promises. Leadership is built on trust, not deception.
“President Tinubu’s reforms and support have helped states deliver projects, pay salaries and pensions as and when due. These reforms particularly include local government financial autonomy,” the governor stressed.
He commended the Tinubu/Dikko Assured initiative for supporting grassroots development, particularly through its empowerment programme for Islamiyya teachers.
Radda also announced a personal donation of N10,000 to each of the 690 beneficiaries, amounting to N6.9m, which he rounded up to N7m.
The governor called on individuals, organisations and philanthropists to support government efforts, noting that government alone could not provide all the interventions needed to transform communities.
He further warned against misinformation capable of undermining development efforts and urged political aspirants to offer practical plans for tackling the challenges confronting citizens.
Earlier, former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, said political leaders had a duty to prioritise the welfare and development of the people.
Masari described as hypocritical any refusal to recognise the achievements of Tinubu and Radda.
“Anyone who ignores the achievements of President Tinubu and Governor Radda is being hypocritical,” the former governor said.
He pointed to major Federal Government infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and other strategic road projects, saying improved infrastructure would boost economic activities, create opportunities and support agriculture.
Masari also praised improvements on the Kaduna-Abuja Road, describing them as evidence of the impact of effective leadership.
The Director-General of Tinubu/Dikko Assured, Umar Zayyad, said the organisation had broadened its programmes to support teachers and beneficiaries of Islamiyya schools.
Zayyad said the initiative was inspired by Tinubu’s leadership and recalled that the President had expressed satisfaction with the Radda administration’s performance during his visit to Katsina.
He also echoed the governor’s position that Katsina had executed projects worth more than N30bn without borrowing, while urging residents to continue supporting government development initiatives.
