From Our Correspondent in Katsina
Management of the Katsina State Transport Authority ,KTSTA, says the N431million unaccounted revenue did not occur under the current management of the agency.
The KTSTA Public Relations Officer, Malam Musa Sa’idu, made this known in a statement while reacting to publication on the Katsina State Auditor General’s report for the year ended December 2023.
“We wish to clarify that the outstanding unaccounted expenditure of more than N407 million, and the N24 million unaccounted revenue as referred to in the report, were not incurred under the current management of KTSTA.
“These outstanding amounts were incurred between 2016 and 2017, before the current management came on board”, the PRO said.
He said that the present management, led by the Managing Director, Alhaji Haruna Musa-Rugoji, came on board in 2018, and since he was appointed, no case of financial mismanagement had been reported in KTSTA.
When the Musa-Rugoji-led management of KTSTA came on board in 2018, he said, it inherited a debt of over N50 million, which were cleared.
“It also met and cleared other debts that include salaries, imprest; allowances; and all other related liabilities owed to KTSTA staff members; dealers; and traders of vehicle spare parts, anong other things.
“The management also met 106 vehicles, out of which 57 were grounded with various degrees of mechanical, electrical and maintenance faults. “Today, all KTSTA buses are in good condition, serviceable and are generating revenue for the state government”, he said.
Sa’idu also said that the Musa-Rugoji-led management introduced a Public-Private Partnership system, which generated more revenue for the agency and the state government. He said that part of the revenue was being used for vehicle maintenance.
“Under the current management, funds realised by KTSTA are being managed very prudently and efficiently. The agency ensures value for money, in line with the Gov. Dikko Radda administration’s policy of zero tolerance for corruption.
“The KTSTA management has opened new sub-stations in some Local Government Areas, in order to ease transport for residents in different parts of the state.
“We will continue to manage the agency prudently, efficiently and transparently, while delivering the best transportation services for the people of Katsina State,” Sa’idu said.
