A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Mohammed Ndarani, has urged state governors to strengthen grassroots development to complement the president’s efforts at delivering the dividends of democracy for the people.
Ndarani made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday, in Abuja.
He was reacting to issues surrounding the ongoing protests and the Federal Government’s release of ₦570billion grant to states.
President Bola Tinubu while addressing the nation following the nationwide protests against rising cost of living, said that the ₦570bn to the 36 states was to expand livelihood support to their citizens.
The senior lawyer said that the state governments have to put local community needs first by making sure local government administrations are efficient and accountable. “How much money have the state governors made since the fuel subsidy was removed? What have some of the governors done with the monies that the president provided to them?
“Some of the governors, not the president, are the issue because when the monies are released to them, they are unable to disperse them to the local governments.
“This has made it challenging for the chairmen of local governments to award contracts worth five million Naira.
The SAN, who expressed disappointment over the manner state resources were deployed, said the president should set up an independent checking mechanism on his policies, to ensure compliance.
“Under the current sharing formula, the Federal Government gets 52.68 per cent of the revenue, states 26.72 percent, and local governments 20.60 per cent.
“Under the 2024 approved budget, over N5 trillion will go to the states, which is N2.24 trillion more than the N3.3 trillion disbursed in 2023.
“The president is doing his very best to enhance the revenue base of the country; therefore, some of the state governors must equally be sympathetic.
“They must urgently consider the needs of the local people,’’ he added.
He advised the citizens to demand accountability from their governors.
“Ask them how much they give to the local governments each month. Nigerians must be informed, and there should be supporting documentation.
“Since the start of this government, every governor is required to submit information on their earnings and expenses.
”My advice to people who want to go on the streets to protest, to blame their governors and not the president, for the difficulties they are facing,” he said. (NAN)
