Soludo Promises Transparent Management, Says State Finance In Bad Shape

New governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has reiterated the resolve of his administration to run a transparent financial management system even as he disclosed that the state’s finance is in bad shape.

Soludo who was sworn in last Thursday March 17, made the disclosure on Tuesday during Arise TV Morning Show programme.

He said that his administration met about N400 million and inherited a debt of over N100 billion.

The former governor of CBN said the details are available in audited account already published as a public document.

He further stated that it is the baseline he met which his administration will take up from and look for ways to finance various projects he is set to embark on.

“The state finance is not quite robust, to put it mildly. The debt is probably in the range of N100 to N109 billion. Then interms of cash, we met about N300 or N400 million. That’s what the state has,” Soludo stated.

“We intend to have a transparent public finance management where we gonna publish everything, so that everybody would know what is there and what is not there; what penny comes in and what it’s used for. That’s part our aspiration, it’s a part of our promise,” the governor stated.

Responding to question about possibility of either having friction with his predecessor or deputy governor, as is often obtainable in different states, Soludo said such will not be the case in his administration, adding that he will bond very well with the deputy governor, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim to deliver quality leadership to people of the state.

He equally reiterated his resolve to rid the state of touts who collect illegal dees at markets and motor parks in different cities in the state, adding that he is determined to crush those who may attempt to resist the order

According to him, such illicit activities scare away people coming to the state for businesses which has negative implications on economic activities in the state.

On the agenda of promoting made-in-Anambra product, the Professor of Economics said that’s the way to go in terms of creating jobs and boosting economic activities in not just the state but the entire country.