The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Nigerians to scrutinize the actions of the governors across the 36 states regarding the staggering N40 trillion allocated to local governments.
MURIC contended that the current trend of blaming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima is misguided.
Professor Lakin Akintola, the Founder and Executive Director of MURIC, emphasized in a recent statement that if citizens are truly concerned about identifying instances of poor governance, their focus should shift from the federal level to state governments.
“We implore Nigerians to redirect their attention towards state and local government councils when searching for signs of bad governance, rather than solely targeting Abuja. It’s high time we ceased putting unnecessary pressure on the federal government. The state governors have many secrets to hide,” he stated.
The full statement elaborated:
“It has come to our attention that Nigerians often expend considerable energy confronting the Federal Government while neglecting state governments, allowing them to act without accountability.
A glaring example of ineffective governance at the state level is the manner in which federal allocations to the states have surged without corresponding improvements in public welfare.
Reports indicate that state governors have received over N40 trillion in local government allocations, yet efforts by civil society groups to demand accountability from these governors are being obstructed
Despite receiving monthly allocations, many governors misappropriate funds designated for local government councils, accumulating wealth while the populace suffers, only to blame the federal government for their shortcomings. This situation persists even after the Supreme Court mandated direct payments to local government councils.
For instance, the governor of Oyo State has controversially requested that funds meant for local governments be deposited into a joint account controlled by both state and local councils, raising concerns about transparency.
Instead of appreciating the federal government’s legal actions against governors who mismanage funds, many Nigerians have chosen to vilify the federal authority.
Globally, it is widely recognized that sustainable development requires robust grassroots engagement, hence the necessity for local government autonomy. Ironically, citizens criticize the federal government, which is actively advocating for this autonomy, while overlooking the oppressive actions of state governors.
Another area of concern is how governors interact with traditional rulers. Many governors pressure these leaders to rally voter support during elections, threatening repercussions for those who do not comply. This creates a precarious position for traditional rulers, who risk losing their positions regardless of their actions.
It is troubling that some governors exhibit an authoritarian tendency, attempting to dominate both the political and traditional structures. It is unjust to remove a traditional leader who is meant to serve for life simply for the sake of a temporary political agenda. Such actions exemplify intolerance and tyranny—key indicators of poor governance.
Moreover, several state governors actively undermine federal efforts to alleviate poverty. For example, while the federal government distributed 20 trucks of rice to each state as relief, a recent incident in Edo State saw a truckload of rice hidden away and subsequently looted by residents.
We also recall the controversial Christmas palliative allocated to lawmakers in December 2023, with only a handful reporting on its usage, contributing to ongoing hunger among the populace.
Furthermore, many state governors have yet to implement the minimum wage of N30,000, with some owing several months of salary arrears. Why were hunger protesters not targeting these state governments?
In summary, we assert that the true essence of poor governance is prevalent in numerous states. Nigerians must stop evading the issue.
Of course, some governors have demonstrated commendable performance and do not belong in the category of ineffective rulers. Notably, Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State consistently provides assistance to his constituents, closely followed by Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, whose rail initiatives have transformed the city. Importantly, Lagos State has no salary debts.
Those who believe that MURIC is merely praising President Tinubu or the federal government, or the Lagos State Government (LASG), are mistaken. We have had disagreements with them regarding issues such as ministerial appointments favoring Christians over Muslims, which we openly criticized.
Likewise, we contested Governor Sanwo-Olu’s decision to appoint 14 Muslim commissioners compared to 43 Christian commissioners, as well as his lack of accountability for a tragic incident involving a mosque demolition in Mushin, Lagos. However, we maintain our objectivity and address concerns when necessary.
