The Presidency has called on State Houses of Assembly across the country to intensify oversight of funds allocated to local governments, stressing that accountability at the subnational level is key to effective governance.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communications, said the President cannot function as a “prefect” over state governors under Nigeria’s federal system.
According to him, while the President provides policy direction at the centre, implementation and oversight responsibilities rest with governors, state lawmakers, and other institutions within the federation.
“The president is not a prefect to the governors. That is why I talk about federalism. At the centre, whatever the president provides for implementation goes through ministers and the National Assembly, which exercise oversight,” he said.
Bwala urged state legislators to take their constitutional role seriously by scrutinising how funds allocated to local governments are spent.
“Here, your House of Assembly should also exercise oversight over appropriations that come to this state. You are to call them to account,” he said.
He cited examples of monthly allocations to a local government, noting that one council received about N600 million monthly, with additional disbursements bringing its total to N2.26 billion between January and March 2026.
Bwala argued that such funds, if properly managed, could significantly improve basic services such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and community security.
“That money would have revived primary healthcare. That money would have put primary schools in place… It would have improved law and order, employment, recruitment, empowerment, and mobilization of vigilantes as a first line of defence,” he said.
He warned that increased federal allocations without strong accountability mechanisms at state and local levels would not translate into meaningful development.
