…Official American Position, Tinubu’s Call Echo Growing Impatience
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LAGOS – Chief Emeka Charles Kalu, President, Eck Foundation, says the US Mission was right in its recent post shared under its #Transparency campaign, in which it criticised some Nigerian governors for lack of fiscal responsibility.
The US Mission said state governors spend billions of naira on white elephant projects like construction of Government Houses, airports, and flyovers, while asking citizens to endure economic hardship.
Dr Kalu, a power engineer and seasoned politician, said the US Mission actually understood Nigeria’s political landscape, where elected public office holders spend and squander public funds on economic liabilities while neglecting the core task of governance which has to do with prioritising the primary needs of the people.
Recall also that President Bola Tinubu on Thursday charged the governors to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians by investing more in their future, putting more money in rural electrification, agricultural mechanisation, poverty eradication and improved investment in infrastructure.
This is just as the National Economic Council (NEC) endorsed a new ward-based development strategy, Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP), to actualise double-digit economic growth through direct intervention in Nigeria’s 8,809 administrative wards across all 36 states.
President Tinubu’s charge to the governors followed a presentation on the RHWDP by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, at the 150th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held at the State House Council Chambers, Abuja.
The President implored the governors to do more to positively impact the lives of Nigerians in the grassroots. He said: “I want to appeal to you; let us change the story of our people in the rural areas.
The economy is working. We are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas. We know the situation in the rural areas, let us collaborate and do what will benefit the people.”
Feelers indicate that the growing impatience of Nigerians with the government and its programmes as articulated in public fora have become a source of concern to the Federal Government which in turn believe that state governors may have failed to complement efforts at the national level.
Lack Of People-Oriented Governance
Kalu, Director-General, Global Initiatives For Good Governance (GIGG), stated: “Nigeria had never experienced such a hard time of hunger, lack and poverty since its history of independence like the present APC-led Federal Government.
“A government that pauperises its citizens under a failed economic system cannot even be recognised as doing well in building basic infrastructures because these jumbo projects are simply used as smarter means of siphoning public funds.
“The award of these contracts hardly follow due process, rather they are given to their political puppets incapable of publishing details of project cost analysis as obtainable in public procurement procedures.
“As a result of this, it becomes difficult for public assessment of their financial status, implementation frameworks and vetting of the general projects.
“The governors have been in the habit of diverting their respective state funds in the name of factoring development projects.
“The truth is that most of them came to power to fulfil their selfish desires against the interest of Nigerians.
“Being a nation that properly understands the need for promoting humanity through sustainable development goals, the United States Mission wanted to overtly address the core reasons Nigeria’s economic growth has been at a low ebb and the citizens are not entrepreneurially empowered by the government, with a weak administrative policies, insecurity and bad governance, one would not easily expect an accelerated stability of the nation ‘s economy.
“This is a government that has failed to critically consider how best to address the prevailing challenges confronting her citizens’ wellbeing.
Rather, its leaders are busy hatching plans to undermine democracy and the rights of the people in the forthcoming 2027 general elections by publicly antagonising the new opposition coalition.
“I felt concerned as to what could have guided one of Mr. President’s aides to have stated that in 2027, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.
“That shows the desperation of the ruling party in deploying everything within its reach to ensure electoral due processes are compromised at the expense of the Nigerian people.
“In all, I commend the US Mission for its deep understanding of the challenges facing Nigerians and its boldness to have exposed the ills by nailing the truth on the head about the lopsided political leadership prevalent in the country.”
Barrister Emeka Iheonu, a Lagos lawyer, said: “The statement by the US Mission is quite apt. The rate of corruption and profligacy in Nigeria is very high and is not abating. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.”
Tola Oresanwo, Director, Administration and Programmes, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL): “The US Mission’s criticism of some Nigerian governors for prioritising extravagant projects like new Government Houses, airports, and flyovers while their citizens suffer economic hardship is both valid and necessary.
“These governors have shown a shocking level of greed and insensitivity, living lavishly on public funds while the majority of Nigerians struggle to afford basic necessities like food, healthcare, and education.
“It is disgraceful that these leaders, along with their families and cronies, enjoy luxury mansions, expensive foreign trips, and fleets of bulletproof cars, all funded by taxpayers, while ordinary citizens wallow in poverty.
“Instead of investing in critical sectors like healthcare, education, and job creation, they waste billions on vanity projects that serve no real public benefit.
“This reckless spending exposes their hypocrisy: they preach sacrifice to the people, but refuse to cut their own excesses. “If these governors truly cared about development, they would prioritise policies that lift people out of poverty, rather than inflating their own egos with unnecessary infrastructure.
“The US Mission’s call for transparency and accountability should serve as a wake-up call. “Nigerian leaders must stop looting public resources and start serving the people who elected them. After all, power belongs to the people. Enough is enough!”
A Word For Fiscal Responsibility
Prof John Ebhomien, an economist and financial expert, said the recent remarks by the United States Embassy on the extravagant spending by some Nigerian governors on lavish projects, such as new Government Houses, airports, and flyovers, serve as a timely reminder of the need for fiscal responsibility.
Ebhomien, a former Consultant to the United Nations Office on Project Services, and an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Lagos, said: “While these projects may be touted as commendable developments, they starkly contrast with the harsh realities faced by many Nigerians struggling to make ends meet.
“The US mission’s comments are a clarion call for Nigerian governors to prioritise transparency and accountability in their financial management.
“Rather than indulging in profligate spending, governors should align themselves with the Federal Government’s policies aimed at fixing the economy and promoting sustainable growth.
“To achieve this, governors should establish robust mechanisms for sound fiscal discipline and transparency.
“By doing so, they can help ensure that public resources are utilised effectively and efficiently to drive development and improve the lives of Nigerians.
“This approach is crucial for building a more prosperous and equitable society.”
Bishop Herbert Ekechukwu, a cleric and economist, said the US Mission’s accusations about the mismanagement of government’s revenue, is a well-known fact.
“The Nigerian governors always embark on irresponsible and reckless misapplication of funds.
“Among them is lack of accountability, and they embark on irresponsible misallocation of public resources.
“They spend billions on luxury projects, while the citizenry face acute economic hardship. These governors are not setting their priorities right.
“In Nigeria today, there is border access, lack of transparency in government spending and budget implementation. “There is a disproportionate effect and impact on the citizenry.
The citizens, who are the owners of the commonwealth, are denied any good life, denied key economic projects, while grey areas are neglected and abandoned.
“These grey areas include absence of good water supply, electricity, health, education, housing and agriculture. “I call on the governors with conscience to remember the poor masses, the downtrodden, who voted them into power to improve their living standard.”
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