As Nigerians continue to face a rising cost of living, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, have called on citizens to demand accountability from state governors and local government chairmen in the management of growing revenue allocations.
Both leaders made the call at separate events in Abuja on Monday, urging sub-national governments to ensure that the increased statutory allocations translate into meaningful development, job creation, and improved living standards.
At the public presentation of “Vicious Red Circle”, a book on human trafficking by Alex Oriaku, Prof. Yilwatda noted that states now receive significantly higher allocations compared to previous years.
“No governor in Nigeria collects less than three to four times what they used to receive,” he said. “Two years ago, about ₦400 billion was shared monthly; today, it is ₦2.2 trillion. Governors must therefore deliver more people-oriented projects. Nigerians should engage their governors and local government chairmen to ensure accountability.”
Yilwatda reaffirmed his belief that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was on the right path, expressing confidence that ongoing reforms would restore economic stability.
Meanwhile, speaking at the joint graduation ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and the University of Benin, Akpabio urged State Houses of Assembly to perform stronger oversight on how governors utilize these increased allocations.
“Our oversight efforts in the 10th Senate have helped boost revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, leading to higher allocations for both federal and state governments,” Akpabio said. “We must ensure these funds translate to better livelihoods and job opportunities for Nigerians.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to reforming the budget process to promote fiscal discipline.
“President Tinubu’s reforms are producing results. Inflation has dropped below 20 percent, and the naira is gaining strength. Though challenges remain, Nigeria’s economy is on a stronger growth path,” Abbas said.
The Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, called for increased funding for tertiary education in the 2026 budget, warning that inadequate investment could undermine human capital development.
“Low funding leads to poor-quality graduates,” he cautioned, urging both federal and state governments to resolve the recurring ASUU strikes.
At the book launch, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed, described human trafficking as a grave global crime comparable to drug and arms trafficking, emphasizing that it “erodes social values and deprives victims of dignity and future.”
Reviewer Dr. Ike Neliaku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, linked human trafficking to corruption and exploitation, urging Nigerians to reject the “culture of silence” that enables such crimes.
Author Alex Oriaku explained that “Vicious Red Circle” exposes the cycle of desperation and silence sustaining human trafficking, describing it as “a circle that preys on the vulnerable and unseen.”
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