2027 general elections: Silencing coalition members, other opposition groups rest not only with Tinubu, APC governors inclusive, by Kola Amzat

In the last 2 years, Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation to state governments alone surged by 62per cent, more than what it’s used to be.

The FAAC allocation has been on the increase for several interconnected reasons, with the biggest driver being the unification of Naira.

Besides, there has been marked improvement in oil production levels compared to very low outputs in 2021, 2022, as well as early 2023 as security operations around oil pipelines and infrastructures have reduced oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta Region.

With higher production comes additional royalties, as well as petroleum profit taxes for the federation account and coupled with this, is the removal of oil subsidies, with the resultant large chunk of oil earnings been deployed hitherto to effect the payment of petrol subsidies, now available for sharing amongst the federal government, federating units as well as Local Government Authorities across the country.       

But, the crux of this Piece remains that, President Bola Tinubu (GCFR) has opted to be distributing on monthly basis all accruing revenues from various sources to federation accounts, to all the three tiers of government according to the sharing formula stipulated in the constitution.

It’s purely the president’s initiative that the fortune of the states across the federation must be significantly improved to make life abundantly meaningful for teeming Nigerians at the grass roots.

He could have chosen otherwise, just like a couple of his predecessors did.

The increased in allocation is ordinarily expected to be channeled to investment in critical areas such as infrastructures, education, medical facilities, agricultures, strengthening security across the country, empowering the teeming youths with skills and knowledge in ICT,  as well as generally deploy the revenue for well-being of teeming Nigerian population at the grassroots.            

Nigerians expect state governments to complement the federal government’s efforts by dutifully and transparently deploying their increased allocations to provide tangible benefits such as improved infrastructures, social services, and economic relief that reflect the promised gains of fuel subsidy removal and other initiatives that are significantly fueling increased revenue to FAAC.

The question most Nigerian people are asking is that, what has been happening to the huge allocation resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy, unification of exchange rate and other federal government initiatives being made to state governments?

In 2024 alone, FAAC shared N28.78 trillion with the three tiers of government, a 79 per cent jump from the N16.28 trillion disbursed in 2023, and a leap from N12.36 trillion in 2022.

The bounty flowing to the state governments on a monthly basis offers a rare opportunity for the federating units to reset their fiscal outlook and invest heavily in social and economic development. But, it does seem that the opportunity is simply being squandered.    

However, the state governments continue to go unchallenged and un-accountable on how revenue accrued to them is disbursed because in Nigeria, public discourse on governance often tilts toward the federal government, yet the most glaring failures in the delivery of essential services and public accountability are unfolding at the states’ level.

The stark reality is that despite a significant increase in revenue since the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the exchange rate, state governors, including APC governors, have largely failed to translate the windfall into tangible improvements in the lives of their citizens.

Given the inactivity of the local government, attention is shifted to the state government, which is closer to the people as it handles key issues like primary and secondary school education and healthcare for the people.

Despite huge revenues being accrued to all the state treasury on monthly basis, life has only become harder for Nigerian people in all the nooks and crannies.

Prices in all segments, including food, transportation, house rentals, utilities, and even school fees keep rising.

The president severally confirmed that money saved would be used to improve lives, fix roads, build hospitals, and provide support. The fact remains: governors, including APC governors are not on the same page with our dear president.

They simply don’t share his sentiments. They haven’t significantly changed! Things have not really changed in all the states across the federation.

This clarion call is to the APC governors they indeed need to cultivate a new order.

In all the president’s deeds, actions and pronouncements, it’s instructive that he has never left any one in doubt that he’s prepared to deploy available resources at his disposal not only for the well-being of millions of Nigerians, but, also to drive the infrastructural construction and renewals, improve educational and medical facilities, as well as empower teeming population of restless Nigerian youths who desire a new dimension in governance.

It must be in the consciousness of APC governors that President Tinubu can’t fight the battle of opposition groups alone; it’s a collaborative and joint effort.

The president can only provide resources, which he has been doing, by availing state governments huge revenue from FAAC account for the governors to make life abundantly better for the populace by constructing roads that link the nooks and crannies, empowerment of SMEs at local level, driving medical and educational facilities, as well as giving hope to the hopeless and despondent.  

It’s also important that the APC governors must be conscious of the fact that, they’re subtly providing loophole for opposition groups, particularly, the politically rejects and confused, to start hiding under the umbrella that the federal government is shirking in its responsibility  and avowed commitment to Nigerians to turn the tide in all the segments-Economy, Infrastructures, Medical, Educations, ICT, etc.               

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.