Thread by @DrCOmole

DON’T BLAME FEDERAL GOVT FOR EVERYTHING GOING WRONG - Challenging the Failures of State Governors

There is a case of Legal dereliction of duties that can be made against many State Governors in Nigeria. Observing what is happening; it is clear that many Nigerians do not fully...

...understand the status of the law hence the FG is blamed for many things unfairly; although FG have a lot to answer for in its own right. Take for instance, cases of the police killings of citizens, the soldiers killing of citizens, kidnappings, herdsmen killings etc.

Many blame the FG for not pursuing these cases. But ALL these are STATE CRIMES. State Attorney Generals (AG) can prosecute these cases without need to involve FG. So why are the States not doing their job? Why does everybody blame FG for everything so easily.

State AG can prosecute crimes committed in their states. But many fail to do this & Nigerians tend to blame the FG for what States should have done. In many areas; States are performing very badly in the discharge of their constitutional duties but they like distracting people...

...by blaming all on FG. The States blamed lower Federal allocations for their inabilities to pay salaries. The FG disbursed several bailouts to the states and many of the Governors simply sat on the funds and still refused to pay salaries. Many Freeloading incompetent Governors.

The Oil producing states complained they were not being given a fair share of oil revenue during OBJ’s era and he created additional allocations for the oil producing states that runs into Billion yearly; yet these states still complain of lack of funds & are still badly run.

And there has been no consequential increase in delivery by these Governors. I think it is time Nigerians wise up & refuse to be manipulated by Governors who hide behind the widely accepted FG misbehaviour to justify all their own local incompetence, graft & dereliction of duties

Even in Education and Health; States have lots of legal responsibilities for Primary & Secondary Education (although there are some FG colleges). Same with Primary & Secondary Healthcare. It's time we stop this FG blame game over everything.

It is time to begin to hold States to better standards and refuse their deflection to the FG of things States should have sorted. Governors are literally getting away with murder. They badly manage their fund allocations but still ask for more all the time.

Many of them exploit every crisis for financial gains. No creativity in generating IGR. They simply queue for handouts monthly from FG but many do precious little to actually develop their states. We must see beyond d spin and misdirection but robustly challenge all Governors...

...to give account of their stewardships for the sake of a wholesome democratic development. Many Governors have killed the LG tier and rendered them powerless and redundant. We must hold Governors accountable & stop this deflection to the FG all the time.

The system simply reinforces failures by many Governors who basks in their immunity to perpetuate impunity & graft then blame everything on the FG. The State Houses of Assembly (SHoAs) are all but non-existent in. We more or less have Sole Administrators not Governors in Nigeria.

There are clearly a few Governors doing a good job; but d majority in my view have not lived up to their oath & d constitution. What will anyone expected with no SHoA to hold them to account. They have become a law unto themselves. It's time more respectable folks get into SHoAs.

And while holding the FG accountable; we MUST not forget to focus also on the Governors. They have a lot to answer for as well.

With more independent SHoAs, the governors will have to sit up and deliver or risk sanction. An independent state legislature is now a MUST HAVE if we are to develop our states and promote good governance at all levels.