PRP gives Bauchi PDP led govt 14-Day ultimatum to disclose financial information

• The party’s requests were contained in a letter sent to the state’s accountant general, citing the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, as the basis for its request

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State has again asked the state government to release its debt profile, statutory allocations, financial interventions, and expenditure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011.

The party’s State Secretary, Hon. Abdulazeez Haruna, stated that the request was made on September 2, 2024, but has not received a response despite the seven-day deadline.

Haruna emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in governance, saying that the public has a right to understand and scrutinize the state government’s financial activities.

“If the information is not provided within the next 14 days, the PRP will take legal action to enforce their right to access the information,” he said.

The PRP said it expected a prompt response from the Bauchi State Government, emphasizing that transparent and accountable governance is the duty of the state government to its citizens.

On September 2, the PRP demanded details on the state government’s financial dealings since 2019.

The letter reads in part “As a responsible political party and citizens’ watchdog, we are concerned about the transparency and accountability of the Bauchi State Government’s financial activities.”

“In line with our commitment to promoting good governance and transparency, we are writing to request information on the following: As of August 2024, what is the total amount of domestic and foreign debts owed by Bauchi State?

Please provide a breakdown of the debt profile, including details of the creditors, outstanding balances, nature of the debts, interest rates, and repayment schedules,” it added.

According to the PRP, “From June 2019 to date, what is the total amount borrowed by Bauchi State? Please provide a breakdown of the borrowing amounts year by year.

How much has Bauchi State serviced out of the amount borrowed from June 2019 to date? Please provide a breakdown of the servicing amounts year by year.”