More Funds Go To The Federal Government; Governors And Local Government Chairmen Should Not Shoulder All The Blame – Radda

According to Ireporter Online, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has argued that public anger over Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship is being wrongly directed at state governors and local government chairmen, insisting that the federal government controls the largest share of national revenue.

Speaking during an interview on an international radio programme, the governor explained that the current revenue allocation formula heavily favours the federal government, leaving states and local councils with limited resources to address the growing needs of citizens. He noted that despite this imbalance, governors and local government officials are often the first to be blamed whenever economic conditions deteriorate.

Governor Radda disclosed that 52 per cent of monthly federation revenue is allocated to the federal government, while the remaining 48 per cent is shared among the 36 states and 774 local government councils. He stressed that this reality contradicts the widespread belief that governors control the bulk of national resources.

He urged Nigerians to critically examine how funds accruing to the federal government are utilised, pointing out that for decades, the centre has consistently received the larger share of national revenue. According to him, the more pressing question should be what has become of those funds over the years.

The Katsina State governor also cautioned against making blanket accusations of corruption against governors, emphasising that integrity should be judged on an individual basis. While supporting accountability for public office holders, he maintained that it is unfair and misleading to label all leaders as corrupt.

Governor Radda further defended his administration’s focus on capital projects despite the economic challenges facing the country. He explained that infrastructure development is one of the fastest ways to stimulate grassroots economic activity, as it creates jobs and circulates money within local communities. He added that ongoing projects across local government areas have helped boost economic activities by providing income for workers, traders, and suppliers.