Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, has called on State Houses of Assembly to strengthen oversight of local government allocations, saying the President cannot act as a “prefect” to governors under Nigeria’s federal structure.
Speaking on federalism and accountability, Bwala said policy direction rests with the President at the centre, while implementation and scrutiny lie with governors, state lawmakers, and other federated institutions.
“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. Here, your House of Assembly should also exercise oversight over appropriations that come to this state. You are to call them to account.”, he stated.
Citing disbursements to one local government, Bwala said it received ₦600 million monthly, with another tranche due this month. Between January and March 2026 alone, the council got ₦2.26 billion.
He argued the funds could have transformed basic services if properly deployed. “That money would have revived primary healthcare. That money would have put primary schools in place. That money would have taken care of construction. It would have improved law and order, employment, recruitment, empowerment, and mobilization of vigilantes as a first line of defence for society. It would have also provided prescription drugs and subsidized healthcare for the people”, Bwala said.
He warned that without accountability at state and local levels, higher federal allocations would change little. “Now, if we do not hold our governors at the federated level accountable, even if the president sends in $30 billion here, we will still be having the same conversation”.
