TheCable

The government of Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano state, has paid N8 billion to indigenous contractors.

Auduwa Maitangaran, chairman of the Indigenous Contractors Association of Kano, disclosed this on Monday, saying the money is part of the outstanding liability being owed 500 of members of the association.

Maitangaran commended Ganduje over the act, and said no governor in the country had made such a move.

He alleged that the administration of Rabi’u Kwankwaso, Ganduje’s predecessor, refused to pay the contractors.

“We feel constrained to tell the whole world that despite the current economic recession, Ganduje has been able to pay contractors N8 billion out of the outstanding liabilities,” Maitangaran told reporters on Monday.

“Through this, no fewer than 500 companies or contractors have been paid by the government.

“Between 2009 and 2016, some of our members died because of the debt, but the governor out of magnanimity and benevolence,  paid the families of the deceased contractors.

“We are using this opportunity to call on other governors to borrow a leaf from Governor Ganduje, and offset the outstanding debts in their respective states.”

He said it was only through patronising indigenous contractors that government could reduce poverty in the countr,y as the contractors have many people working under them.