The party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this while speaking on Channels TV on Friday, where he argued that governors now have more funds following the removal of fuel subsidy but have not translated the inflow into better welfare for citizens.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that state governors have failed to improve the living conditions of Nigerians despite receiving increased allocations from the Federal Government.
The party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this while speaking on Channels TV on Friday, where he argued that governors now have more funds following the removal of fuel subsidy but have not translated the inflow into better welfare for citizens.
“The governors, by their own, by the president’s own declaration, he has given more money to the governors than maybe any president has ever given to governors in our history. And how has that reflected in the improved livelihood of the people in the states?” Abdullahi asked.
He said the current generation of governors had received more funds than any before them.
“I’m not saying all of them are bad, but what I’m saying is that they have received more money than any other generation of governors have received in the history of this country,” the former minister said.
Abdullahi linked the increase in allocations to the removal of fuel subsidy, questioning its impact on citizens at the state level.
“You can say devaluation. The reason that we have more money going to the states is because they removed subsidies, and that money is now going to the states. In what way has that reflected a better life for the people in the states?”
President Bola Tinubu removed fuel subsidies after assuming office in May 2023, a move that led to a sharp rise in fuel prices. He said the funds freed from the policy would be used to support infrastructure and other needs.
Since then, allocations to states have increased, a development acknowledged by several governors.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori recently confirmed the rise in funds while speaking at a January 13 event for the construction of the N39.3 billion Otovwodo flyover in Ughelli North Local Government Area.
“I want to tell you something that some people do not even know. More money is coming to the states. I am not a governor who will hide it. What am I going to hide it for?” Oborevwori said.
“The money is coming from somewhere. Some people want to hide that there is no money; there is money. Use the money, as we are using it in our state. Use it in your state, so that the people will be very happy.”
Earlier, at a caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on February 25, Tinubu said, “Today, I can beat my chest and tell each of the governors here that allocations to the states are triple”.
Months later, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, said allocations to the 36 states had increased from N3.8 trillion to N7.1 trillion under Tinubu’s administration.