APC Spokesman Alleges Ministers Pay Billions To Secure Appointments, Recover Money

A spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Alwan Hassan, has alleged that some ministers in Nigeria pay billions of naira to secure appointments and subsequently focus on recovering the money they spent.

Hassan made the allegation during an interview on Arise News on Thursday while defending President Bola Tinubu’s personal involvement in managing government expenditure and revenue.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the APC spokesman argued that some individuals who invest heavily in securing ministerial positions may prioritise recouping their alleged expenses rather than concentrating on public service.

He maintained that the alleged practice was not exclusive to the APC, claiming that similar concerns had persisted under successive administrations in Nigeria.

Hassan praised Tinubu for taking a hands-on approach to decisions involving government revenue and expenditure, describing the President’s involvement in financial management as commendable.

He suggested that allowing ministers to exercise unrestricted control over budget implementation could raise concerns, particularly if public office holders were motivated by personal financial interests.

The APC campaign council spokesperson also claimed that ministers had frequently faced scrutiny over alleged financial misconduct after successive governments left office. However, he did not identify any specific minister accused of paying billions of naira to obtain an appointment or provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

Hassan’s comments come amid public debate over government spending, budget implementation and the management of Nigeria’s financial resources.

While defending the Tinubu administration, he cited pension payments, retirement benefits, electricity metering and investments in technology as areas where the government had made progress.

He expressed confidence that the administration’s record would strengthen the APC’s prospects in the 2027 presidential election.

However, his allegations about payments for ministerial appointments remain unsubstantiated in the information provided, and no specific officials were named.