Hold Governors Accountable, Not Just Tinubu — Presidency Tells Nigerians

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has called on Nigerians to demand greater accountability from state governors, arguing that meaningful development at the grassroots level will remain elusive unless citizens scrutinize how state and local government funds are spent.

Bwala made the remarks in a post on X while addressing concerns about governance, public spending, and the responsibilities of elected officials under Nigeria’s federal system.

According to him, many Nigerians focus their criticism on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while paying insufficient attention to the actions and performance of governors who exercise considerable authority over their respective states.

The presidential aide stressed that Nigeria operates a federal structure, meaning state governments have constitutional responsibilities and should be independently held accountable for the management of resources allocated to them.

“The President is not a prefect to the governors. That is why I talk about federalism,” Bwala stated.

He explained that while the Federal Government is subject to oversight by the National Assembly and operates through ministers and federal agencies, state governments are similarly expected to be monitored by their respective State Houses of Assembly.

Bwala argued that state legislatures have a constitutional duty to scrutinize appropriations and ensure that public funds are used for projects that directly benefit citizens.

He pointed to allocations received by local governments, suggesting that substantial resources are often available but may not translate into visible development if citizens fail to demand transparency and accountability.

According to him, funds allocated to states and local governments should be sufficient to improve critical sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, security, and community development.

He noted that effective utilization of such resources could lead to the rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres, the improvement of public schools, the execution of construction projects, job creation initiatives, and support for local security structures.Bwala also maintained that healthcare services, prescription drugs, and other social welfare programmes could be significantly enhanced if available funds were properly managed.

The presidential aide emphasized that the President cannot directly intervene in the day-to-day administration of states, insisting that citizens must hold governors and local government officials responsible for how public resources are utilized.

He warned that increasing federal allocations alone would not solve governance challenges if there is no corresponding accountability at the state and local levels.

“Now, if we do not hold our governors at the federated level accountable, even if the President sends $30 billion here, we will still be having the same conversation,” Bwala stated.

His comments come amid ongoing debates over revenue allocations, local government autonomy, and the responsibilities of various tiers of government in addressing developmental challenges across Nigeria.