President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has reassured state governors that the financial autonomy granted to local governments is not a ploy to undermine their authority or seize control of the third tier of government.
Speaking during a New Year visit by members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), led by Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos, Tinubu emphasized the need for collaboration between federal and state governments to drive grassroots development.
The President addressed concerns about alleged disagreements over local government autonomy, saying:
“We will not fight within us. I will drive the change. You control your local governments. Nobody wants to take them away from you. Just drive development at the local level, and let’s work together to ensure Nigeria is better off for it.”
Tinubu tasked governors with leveraging their leadership to address critical issues, including agricultural productivity, currency stability, and economic growth. Highlighting the role of subnational leadership, he added:
“You are the most important link to Nigeria’s prosperity. The Federal Government gets about 30 to 35 percent of the allocated revenue, while the rest goes to you. The agricultural value chain depends on your efforts. Let’s grow more, work harder, and improve our currency’s situation together.”
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, chairman of the NGF, commended the administration’s reforms, stating they had increased funding to states despite inflation. He affirmed the governors’ commitment to supporting Tinubu’s vision for a more prosperous Nigeria.
