As Nigerians tackle the Federal Government over bad governance, as witnessed during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria nationwide protests, they neglect, fail, or refuse to equally address the same issues at the state level. This oversight hampers efforts to enhance transparency and improve accountability mechanisms at all levels of government in Nigeria. The truth is that most state governments lack transparency and accountability in governance.
This has been particularly evident in the recent disbursement of N5.34 trillion to state governments from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), notwithstanding claims by some states that the money was not a grant from the federal government but a World Bank loan meant to aid COVID-19 recovery. It is preposterous that, despite the increasing revenue profiles of state governments, they continue to abdicate their responsibilities, hiding under the failures of the federal government.
This challenge has become endemic, pushing over 133 million Nigerians into multidimensional poverty. It cries out for remedy. In Nigeria’s federal system, state governments have constitutionally assigned roles and responsibilities on education, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare, which directly impact poverty alleviation and reduction of human misery. Therefore, state governments should assume responsibility for poverty alleviation, and foster a culture of accountability and good governance. This can lead to more efficient use of public resources, better service delivery, and an improved quality of life for citizens.
Beyond the legal and constitutional responsibilities, there is a moral obligation for state governors to improve the lives of their citizens. Leaders, who genuinely care about the welfare of their people, must act to eliminate poverty and human misery, regardless of the challenges at the federal level. In so doing, citizens would not need to look to the federal government to solve their basic needs or clamour for change.
Unfortunately, state governments, which control substantial resources, including allocations from the federal government and internally generated revenue, frequently mismanage these resources. Corruption, embezzlement, and inefficiency often result in funds being diverted from essential services to personal or political gains. Most state governors in Nigeria also lack transparency in the utilisation of allocations from the FAAC. For example, before the recent Supreme Court judgment upholding the autonomy of the third tier of government, local government allocations from the Federation Account were routed through state governors, many of who misused and misappropriated the allocations, to the detriment of their local governments. Even when the federal government intervenes directly and disburses funds through the states, the funds are often hoarded, diverted for private use, or disbursed to political party members, as Nigerians witnessed during the COVID-19 crisis.
Neglect by states to provide adequate social services leaves the poor without access to basic needs, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. In some cases, facilities exist, but they are poorly funded or staffed, making them ineffective. Rural areas, where a significant portion of the population lives, are often neglected, leading to a lack of infrastructure, such as roads, electricity, and clean water, and making it difficult for rural communities to thrive. Without these basic amenities, economic opportunities are scarce, and poverty remains entrenched, leading many people in rural areas to drift endlessly to urban centres in search of elusive white-collar jobs.
Additionally, development projects in many states are often politicised. Instead of being implemented based on need and potential impact, projects are often awarded based on political loyalty or the desire to win votes. This leads to uneven development, where some areas receive attention while others are neglected. Instead of focusing on creating an enabling environment for economic investment and growth—such as improving infrastructure, providing incentives for businesses, and supporting local industries—some state governments hypocritically prioritize short-term, populist projects that do not address the root causes of poverty. This lack of strategic economic planning stifles job creation and sustainable development in the states.
State governors should stop relying heavily on federal allocations, and instead put more effort into boosting their internally generated revenue through local economic activities. This dependency syndrome stifles initiative and the ability to independently source funds to finance projects in the states. State governors should be reminded that they are closer to the people and better understand the unique challenges and needs of their populations. Consequently, they are in a better position to design and implement targeted policies and programmes that can effectively address poverty and human misery in their specific regions.
For example, the old Nigerian Regions, which were closer to the people, were not only economically viable but also responsive to the local needs of the population. Each region had its unique economic strengths, contributing not only to Nigeria’s overall economic growth during that period but also to improving the economic, educational, and cultural well-being of citizens in various ways. For instance, the Western Region, known for its cocoa production, significantly contributed to Nigeria’s export earnings. It also had a strong industrial base, with textile mills, food processing, and beverage production.
The Eastern Region was rich in oil palm resources and once dominated palm oil and kernel production. It also had a growing industrial sector, including textile mills and food processing. With its vast agricultural land and livestock resources, the Northern Region was a major producer of groundnuts, cotton, and livestock products. It also had a significant mining industry, including tin and columbite. The Mid-Western Region, created in 1963, had a strong agricultural sector, producing palm oil, rubber, and timber. It also had a growing industrial base, including food processing and textiles.
In the critical months ahead, state governments should implement caring, transparent, responsible, and incorruptible policies that could reduce poverty and accelerate human flourishing. Given the scandalous increase in poverty and human misery in most urban and rural areas of Nigeria, state governments have the responsibility not to deprive their citizens of the chance to live fully decent human lives and to push forward the frontiers of human civilisation for the benefit of humankind. Eliminating poverty and satisfying basic human needs remain goals that challenge state governments in Nigeria.
The people, on their part, should demand accountability and integrity from their respective state governments and representatives in government. The federal government should not be made to bear the brunt of all problems. Failures of the federal government present challenges, but state governments have both the responsibility and the capacity to address poverty and human misery within their jurisdictions.
