By Headlinenews.News
A trending video making the rounds across social media has reignited an important national conversation that has often been overshadowed by partisan politics and public misconceptions. In the video, a free-minded Nigerian presents a simple but thought-provoking argument: while many Nigerians continue to direct their anger over economic hardship almost exclusively at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they are paying far less attention to the governors and local government chairmen who now control unprecedented levels of public funds.
Whether one agrees entirely with his conclusions or not, the message deserves careful consideration because it raises a constitutional and fiscal reality that every Nigerian should understand.
Nigeria’s governance structure is not designed for the Federal Government alone to solve every problem. It is a federation in which responsibilities are shared among the Federal Government, the 36 state governments, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, and the 774 local governments.
Since the removal of fuel subsidy and the implementation of major fiscal reforms, monthly allocations to states have increased substantially. The increase has been driven by improved federation revenues, higher oil receipts, exchange-rate adjustments affecting federally collected revenues, and other fiscal reforms. Many states now receive significantly more from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) than they did just a few years ago.
Several governors have publicly acknowledged that their monthly allocations have doubled or even tripled compared to previous years. Some local governments are also receiving their highest statutory allocations since the return to democratic rule.
These are not insignificant developments.
The purpose of increased allocations was not merely to improve government bank balances. They were intended to strengthen service delivery, improve infrastructure, pay workers promptly, invest in healthcare and education, support agriculture, stimulate local economies and provide social safety nets capable of cushioning the temporary hardship associated with difficult economic reforms.
This is where the national conversation becomes critical.
Many Nigerians instinctively hold the President responsible for virtually every challenge they encounter—from poor roads within their communities to non-functional primary healthcare centres, unpaid local workers, blocked drainage systems, abandoned schools, refuse collection, markets, rural roads and even local security initiatives.
Yet many of these responsibilities fall directly under state and local governments.
Primary education, primary healthcare, rural infrastructure, markets, local roads, sanitation, agricultural extension services and numerous social welfare programmes are largely administered by state and local authorities.
This is not an attempt to absolve the Federal Government of its responsibilities. The Federal Government remains responsible for national economic management, defence, monetary coordination, major infrastructure, foreign affairs and many nationwide programmes. Citizens are entitled to scrutinise and question federal policies and their impact.
However, effective democracy also requires citizens to direct accountability toward the correct institutions.
If governors receive substantially increased allocations, citizens are justified in asking:
How much entered the state’s treasury?
How much was invested in healthcare?
How much reached schools?
How much was spent on rural roads?
How much supported farmers?
How much was allocated to youth employment?
How much reached vulnerable households through genuine social intervention programmes?
Likewise, local government chairmen should increasingly be called upon to explain how public funds are being utilised within their councils, especially as discussions around local government financial autonomy continue to evolve.
Accountability should not stop at Abuja.
It must travel to every state capital and every local government headquarters.
Democracy functions best when citizens monitor every layer of government rather than concentrating attention on only one office.
The viral video therefore serves less as a political endorsement and more as a civic reminder.
Nigeria’s democracy cannot mature if citizens overlook those closest to them while expecting solutions exclusively from the Presidency.
Town hall meetings should become more robust.
State budgets should attract greater public scrutiny.
Civil society organisations should intensify budget monitoring.
Traditional rulers, professional associations, community development unions and the media should regularly evaluate projects executed with public funds.
Every governor should publish measurable performance indicators.
Every local government should account for every allocation received.
Transparency should become the norm rather than the exception.
The success of President Tinubu’s economic reforms will ultimately be judged not only by macroeconomic indicators but also by whether increased revenues reaching subnational governments translate into visible improvements in the daily lives of Nigerians.
If state governments effectively utilise these resources, citizens should begin to experience better roads, improved schools, stronger healthcare systems, expanded agricultural support, enhanced security partnerships and meaningful employment initiatives.
If those improvements fail to materialise despite higher revenues, then democratic accountability demands that questions be directed to those constitutionally responsible for delivering those services.
The lesson from the trending video is therefore straightforward.
Democracy works best when responsibility follows constitutional authority.
Every elected official—from the President to governors, local government chairmen and councillors—must remain accountable to the people.
Nigerians should continue demanding good governance at every level, insist on transparency in public spending and measure performance with facts rather than emotions.
Only then can increased public revenues become improved public welfare rather than merely larger government accounts.
A stronger Nigeria will emerge when every tier of government carries its constitutional responsibilities, and every citizen understands where those responsibilities truly lie.
The National Patriots urge Nigerians to strengthen democracy by demanding accountability from every tier of government. While the Federal Government sets national policy, governors and local government chairmen must transparently account for the increased public funds entrusted to them. Citizens should actively monitor budgets, projects and service delivery to ensure resources translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives.
G. Fraser. MFR
The National Patriots
