The Minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has issued a detailed rebuttal to claims made by Governor Dauda Lawal during his interview on Arise TV’s morning show on Monday, April 14th, 2025. In a strongly worded statement made available to the press, Matawalle accused Governor Lawal of making “deliberate misrepresentations” about the state of affairs during his administration.
Accusation Over Funds Left in Treasury
Governor Lawal alleged that Matawalle left only N4 million in the state’s coffers. Matawalle, however, dismissed the claim as “a blatant lie,” asserting that he left behind substantial financial assets, including a N14 billion bond, N2.6 billion in World Bank accruals, N6.3 billion in UBE grants, and N2.7 billion from the NG-CARES program, which he claims later yielded N42 billion for the current administration.
Salary Arrears and Financial Constraints
Addressing the claim that his government owed four and a half months’ salary, Matawalle argued that only three months’ arrears were left unpaid. He blamed Governor Lawal for disrupting financial mechanisms with banks that previously enabled salary payments, and stated that this disruption made it difficult to continue regular payments in his final months in office.
Security and Banditry
On security, Matawalle criticized Governor Lawal’s claim of having curtailed bandit attacks in Zamfara. He referenced recent incidents in Talata Mafara and Tsafe LGAs, alleging that attacks and abductions were still rampant. The former governor also accused Lawal of politicizing the issue and attempting to take credit for federal-level interventions, including the relocation of the Command and Control Centre to Sokoto under Matawalle’s coordination as Minister of State for Defence.
WAEC and NECO Fees Controversy
Governor Lawal’s assertion that his administration had cleared all outstanding WAEC and NECO fees was challenged. Matawalle cited the rejection of hundreds of Zamfara indigenes from national service and security agencies due to lack of certificates, calling it evidence that the issue was far from resolved.
Infrastructure and Minimum Wage Debate
Matawalle further dismissed claims that there were no motorable roads in the state when Governor Lawal assumed office. He pointed out what he described as contradictions in Lawal’s own interview, particularly regarding the state of infrastructure outside the state capital, Gusau.
On the minimum wage, Matawalle clarified that the controversial N7,000 figure cited by Lawal referred to a social intervention program for unemployed youth, not salaries paid to civil servants. He added that the N30,000 wage template was developed under his administration, and accused Lawal of implementing the new N70,000 minimum wage late and unfairly.
Labour Discontent and Final Remarks
According to Matawalle, the manner in which the new wage was implemented has drawn the ire of labor unions in the state, leading to protests. He concluded his statement with a scathing critique of Governor Lawal’s media appearances, accusing him of a pattern of misinformation and dishonesty.
“Governor Dauda Lawal, fear God, for there is a day of reckoning,” Matawalle concluded, delivering a sharp moral rebuke in Hausa: “Kai Gov Dauda Lawal, kaji tsoron Allah, don akwai ranar gobe kiyama.”