Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has urged Nigerians to broaden the conversation around the country’s economic hardship, arguing that state governors should not be the sole targets of public anger.
According to him, the Federal Government takes the largest share of money distributed from the Federation Account, leaving states and local governments with less than half to manage their responsibilities.
Speaking during an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI) Hausa, Radda explained that about 52 percent of federation revenue goes to the Federal Government, while the remaining 48 percent is shared among the 36 states and 774 local government councils. He said this revenue structure often places unrealistic expectations on subnational governments, despite their limited access to national funds.
The governor also questioned how funds retained by the central government over several decades have been spent, suggesting Nigerians should demand greater accountability at the federal level. His comments come at a time when state governments are under increasing pressure to justify higher allocations following the removal of fuel subsidy.
Addressing frequent corruption accusations against governors, Radda rejected what he described as blanket judgments, insisting that leadership performance should be assessed individually. He further defended continued spending on capital projects, saying infrastructure development helps stimulate local economies by creating jobs and circulating money within communities across Katsina State.
