Nigerian Governors and the Short Trek to Posterity - By Sani Bello Hamza

Over the years, there has been a great concern regarding the huge amount of money spent by the Federal Government subsidizing petroleum prod...

Over the years, there has been a great concern regarding the huge amount of money spent by the Federal Government subsidizing petroleum products for Nigerians. The concern stems from acclaimed "economic experts" and other well-meaning Nigerians across the country who were heard advocating for a complete removal of the subsidy and directing the purported amount to other sectors, like Agriculture, Infrastructure, education, and job creation, among others. If you ask them why? They'll say; because the government do not have the money to keep the subsidy alive for Nigerians. 

Before President Muhammadu Buhari left office in 2023, the federal government was already paying close to a trillion naira monthly for subsidies. This gave birth to mistrust and uncertainty among Nigerians regarding the whereabouts of the subsidy as they were still buying the fuel at a higher price. This made Nigerians question if the huge amount budgeted and appropriated for the subsidy is well accounted for.

Again, In 2016, an "expert" who is a leader and a revered figure in northern Nigeria was quoted to have advised former president Buhari to "firmly and unequivocally eliminate fuel subsidies" Because he also believed the government did not have the money to keep the subsidy alive for Nigerians. That's not the end; not long ago, the Federal government approved a 300% increase in electricity tariff to commence immediately. Nigerians will now have to pay N225 kilowatts per hour instead of the N68 customers are paying before. This is coming in a period when Nigerians a grasping for breath and recovering from FG's harsh economic policies despite the epileptic power supply across the country, thereby adding salt to the injury and worsening the country's economy all because the federal government do not have money subsidize electricity for Nigerians.

There is no doubt the recent 0.5 Cybersecurity levy imposed on banking transactions by the Central Bank of Nigeria is also capable of rendering the little savings in the hands of Nigerians useless and reducing the purchasing power of their money. Again, the federal allocation for education was significantly reduced by the government which forced universities to charge exorbitant prices and force indigent Nigerian students to pay through their noses to go to university. 

You see, in all these, the question I kept asking myself is;  Where do we get it wrong? And; Why is the blame always on the Federal Government? What are our state governors doing to cushion the effects and alleviate the suffering of Nigerians? What are our state governors doing the address the country's economic challenges?

Well, If the federal government are responsible for making unfriendly economic policies, the state governors are not there to complain; they are in a better position to restructure their states and make way for economic and social development. Given the huge amount of money generated internally in their states as well as the monthly allocation by FAAC.

Recent statistics have shown that about 90 per cent of Nigerians live in states and not the Federal Capital. The remaining 10% living in the capital also report to their respective states of origin.

The report also has it that the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed the sum of 2 trillion naira to the three tiers of government for the month of April. 52% of which goes to the state government. Some states of the federation received as much as 30 billion naira. Do you care to ask them what they've done with it?

From the above statistics it is evident that as much as we hold the federal government accountable for good governance, the state governors should also be held accountable for infrastructural development, Agriculture, job creation and quality education. 

We must ask our governors what they are doing to improve primary health care and primary education. We must also ask them what they are doing to prevent the hoarding and exploitation of Nigerians by fuel attendants. We must ask them what they've done to create a conducive atmosphere for businesses to thrive in their states. We must as well ask them what effort they've made to alleviate poverty and suffering for their citizens. They must show workings! 

Nigerian governors have all that they need in their arsenal to accelerate development in their respective states and improve the livelihood of their citizens. It is, however, clear that only a few of them are ready to work under every given circumstance, most of them hide under the shade of debt to mask up their failure and mediocrity. 

The recent report by EFCC where 58 Nigerian governors have been prosecuted or are still under prosecution for misappropriating 2 trillion Naira during their reign as governors is an indicator of how Nigerian governors failed to implement the federal government's development agenda over the years. We keep on criticizing and calling on the federal government to provide basic amenities which are within the ambit of the duties of our state governors. Nigerians should hold their governors accountable and demand transparency and accountability in governance. Nigerian governors have the resources and authority to drive development in their respective states, they must show workings or else, posterity will not be kind to those who fail to deliver. 

Sani Bello Hamza is a Law Student at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria he writes from Zaria and can be reached through 09013506168 or sanibellohamza@gmail.com.