Show Nigerians How You Spent Subsidy Funds, Wike Tells Governors

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged state governors to explain to their citizens how they have spent the increased allocations received since the removal of the petrol subsidy.

Speaking during a media chat with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, Wike said each state government, rather than the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), should account for how the additional funds had been used.

He argued that the increased allocations to the three tiers of government had given states greater capacity to fund projects, pay salaries and pensions, and improve public services.

According to him, the NGF, as an association, could not replace individual governors’ responsibility to account to their citizens.

“What you call the Nigerian Governors’ Forum is an association. I’m a governor of State A, I should be able to defend my State A,” Wike said.

He added that governors were elected by the people of their respective states and should therefore answer directly to them.

“Rivers State Government is accountable to the citizens of Rivers State. Anambra State Government is accountable because they have been elected by citizens of those states, not by the entire Federation of Nigeria,” he said.

Wike said governors should be able to point to projects and programmes financed with the additional revenue generated after the subsidy removal.

“If Governor Diri says, ‘Look, challenge me. The money that came, see what I’ve done for Bayelsa State,’ fine,” he said, referring to Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri.

He also defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, saying it had increased revenues available to the federal, state and local governments.

According to him, the impact of the policy should be assessed by what governments had achieved with the additional resources.

“Today, the states are saying, unlike before, we can’t pay salaries, we can’t pay pensions, strikes all over the places. Are there strikes again now? They can tell you, no,” he said.

He maintained that governments at all levels must remain accountable for how the additional funds were spent.

Wike also criticised politicians who, he said, changed their positions on major policy issues to suit political interests.

“One thing you must take me on is that I am a consistent politician,” he said.

He questioned politicians who had previously supported subsidy removal but later promised to restore it during election campaigns.

“If a candidate says yesterday, at the moment you have your vote for me, I’m going to remove subsidy; today the candidate says, ‘No, vote for me, I’m going to bring back subsidy,’ I mean, what kind of candidate is that?” he asked.

He said political candidates should clearly explain their policy positions rather than make campaign promises aimed solely at attracting votes.

Responding to concerns that infrastructure development in Abuja had not translated into better living conditions, Wike disagreed with the view that housing alone should be used to measure residents’ quality of life.

He said investments in roads, public transportation and other public infrastructure had improved access and mobility across the Federal Capital Territory.

“Why do we have to only think until everybody gets houses? That’s only when the quality of life has changed. That is wrong,” he said.

Wike argued that improvements in transport, road infrastructure and other public services should also be considered indicators of better living standards.

On his reported reconciliation with political associates, the minister said the disagreements had been resolved but declined to discuss the details.

“Personal, political, everything settled,” he said.

He added that he had invited the concerned political associate for talks but would not disclose what was discussed.