Tinubu Is Not Your Prefect! Presidency Tells Nigerians To Hold Governors Accountable

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has called on Nigerians to hold their state governors accountable for the management of public funds and development at the grassroots level.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Bwala made the statement in a post on X, stressing that meaningful progress would remain elusive unless citizens demand transparency and accountability from their elected governors.

According to him, Nigeria operates a federal system of government, meaning President Bola Tinubu cannot directly supervise or dictate how state governors administer their respective states.

“The President is not a prefect to the governors,” Bwala stated. “That is the essence of federalism. States have their own Houses of Assembly, which are empowered to oversee government spending and ensure accountability, just as the National Assembly performs oversight functions at the federal level.”

He argued that state legislatures and citizens should closely monitor how allocations received by states and local governments are utilized.

Bwala pointed out that substantial funds are regularly disbursed to local governments, noting that residents should demand explanations on how such resources are spent.

“The President does not need to come to every state to confront governors over the use of public funds,” he said. “For instance, billions of naira have been allocated to local governments within a few months. Citizens should ask questions and ensure those funds are used for development.”

He maintained that proper utilization of these allocations could significantly improve primary healthcare services, education, infrastructure, security, employment opportunities, community policing initiatives, and access to affordable medication.

The presidential aide further argued that if governors and local authorities are not held accountable, increased federal allocations alone will not solve the country’s developmental challenges.

“Even if the President were to send billions more to the states, we would still be having the same conversation if there is no accountability at the state level,” Bwala said.