Youth leaders in Taraba State, on Tuesday, dismissed allegations by a former member representing Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency, Danjuma Usman Shiddi, accusing governor Agbu Kefas’ administration of reckless borrowing and financial mismanagement.
In a statement jointly signed by PDP North-East Zonal Youth, leader, Tijani Sale,; PDP Taraba State Youth Leader; Ado Zaki, and Gara Nongha, Chairman of the Taraba State Youth Development Agency, the youths described Shiddi’s claims as “false, misleading, and politically motivated.
The group said the claim that N17 billion was awarded for the procurement of school uniforms and items from China was a “gross misrepresentation.” According to them, the N17 billion represents the total cost of educational materials and infrastructure under the free and compulsory education policy launched in 2023.
Read also:
- Troops foil terror plot in Taraba, arrest 2 terror suspects
- TAHRIFF 2025 brings cinema, joy to orphans in Taraba
- Governor Kefas hosts School Quiz in Jalingo to prepare Taraba Students for NILDS National Competition
They added that the initiative had already produced visible results, including the distribution of uniforms and instructional materials to pupils across all 16 local government areas, construction of 61 model schools using Hydra-foam technology, 12 of which, according to them, are completed and the ongoing rehabilitation of several existing schools.
Funds, they said, were disbursed directly to school heads to ensure transparency, while procurement of desks, roofing materials, and other learning infrastructure continued across the state.
The youths also rejected Shiddi’s claim that the N206.78 billion bank loan approved in August 2023 amounted to reckless borrowing.They explained that the facility, approved by the Taraba State House of Assembly was a syndicated development loan targeted at revitalizing key sectors such as education, agriculture, security, health, and infrastructure.
“Approval does not equate to disbursement. Only a portion of the approved amount has been accessed based on project readiness,” the statement noted
A breakdown of the allocations, as made known by them, shows N50 billion for education; N30 billion each for agriculture, health, and security; N40 billion for infrastructure; N5 billion each for the judiciary, microfinance, and the House of Assembly; N2 billion each for women affairs, digital economy, and waste management; and N5 billion for pension and gratuity payments.
They cited ongoing projects as evidence of the loan’s impact, including the procurement of 750 tractors, fertilizer distribution, support for dry-season farming, and the remodeling of the Taraba State House of Assembly complex.
The youths further clarified that the N350 billion bond referenced by Shiddi “has not yet been accessed,” stating that it remains at the advisory stage pending approvals from the Debt Management Office, DMO, and the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC.
On the $268.63 million ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) facility, the group explained that it was a project finance investment, and not a cash loan, aimed at boosting agriculture, renewable energy, and industrial development.
According to them, the facility will fund a 10,000-hectare rice farm, a state-branded rice mill, an agro-industrial park, and a 50-megawatt solar power plant.
Responding to claims that Taraba’s debt profile had risen to N1.2 trillion, the youths cited DMO data showing the state’s debt at about N84 billion lower than several neighbouring states.
They noted that even in Shiddi’s own letter, he admitted that Taraba’s domestic debt had dropped from N105.98 billion in 2022 to N86.96 billion under Governor Kefas, which they said was “evidence of fiscal discipline.”
The youths who acknowledged the fact that FAAC allocations had increased nationwide but maintained that governor Kefas had prioritized prudent spending and visible impact.
They listed achievements such as prompt payment of salaries and pensions, phased clearance of arrears, implementation of a Treasury Single Account (TSA), and improved security logistics, among others.
The youths dismissed Shiddi’s claim that the House of Assembly was “too supportive” of the executive, saying collaboration between both arms of government signified maturity, not weakness.
They affirmed that the Kefas administration was “borrowing to build” investing in education, industry, renewable energy, and infrastructure to secure sustainable growth.
“Instead of spreading half-truths and alarmist figures, we encourage informed and patriotic engagement,” the statement added.
