RismadarVoice Reporters
June 20, 2026
Presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, has called for increased accountability at the state and local government levels, urging Nigerians to hold governors accountable and not put the blame solely on President Bola Tinubu.
Bwala made the remarks on Friday in a post on X, where he emphasised the principles of federalism and the constitutional responsibilities of state governments in managing public funds.
He said governors operate within a system that includes state assemblies tasked with oversight functions, stressing that responsibility for development outcomes should not be centralised at the federal level.
According to him, funds allocated to states and local governments are often substantial, and proper use of such resources should significantly improve basic infrastructure and social services if effectively managed.
“The President is not a prefect to the governors. That is why I talk about federalism. They have State Houses of Assembly. At the centre, whatever the President provides for implementation goes through ministers and the National Assembly, which exercises oversight,” he wrote.
Bwala argued that accountability mechanisms already exist at the subnational level, including legislative oversight by state assemblies, which he said should ensure transparency in the use of public funds.
He cited examples of monthly allocations to local governments, insisting that such resources, if properly deployed, could transform primary healthcare, education, security, and community development.
“That money would have revived primary healthcare. That money would have put primary schools in place. That money would have taken care of construction projects, improved law and order, employment, empowerment, and community security,” he stated.
The presidential aide further maintained that inefficiency or mismanagement at the state level often contributes to poor service delivery, even when significant funds are received from the federation account.
He added that continued focus on the federal government alone risks overlooking governance failures at lower levels.
“If we do not hold our governors at the federated level accountable, even if the President sends large sums here, we will still be having the same conversation,” he warned.
