Femi Falana: Nigerians Must Demand Government Revenue Accountability

• Human rights lawyer Femi Falana urged Nigerians to demand accountability from all three tiers of government due to increased revenue.
• Falana noted that despite higher government earnings, there has been no corresponding improvement in citizens' living conditions.
• He highlighted a local government in Ekiti State that received N5.4 billion, questioning why a N500 million road project near Afe Babalola University remained unfixed.
• Falana also expressed skepticism about the benefits of fuel subsidy removal and raised concerns that $10 billion annually earmarked for fuel importation is now largely used for debt servicing.
• He emphasized that citizens must actively question how federal, state, and local governments are spending their increased financial allocations.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Falana underscored the critical need for Nigerians to actively question how these additional funds are being utilized by all levels of government, particularly given the lack of corresponding improvements in citizens' living conditions.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has issued a strong appeal to the Nigerian populace, urging them to demand rigorous accountability from all levels of government. Falana's intervention comes amidst a significant increase in revenue accruing to the federal, state, and local administrations. He highlighted a critical disconnect, observing that despite these enhanced financial inflows, there has been no commensurate improvement in the living conditions of citizens across the nation. This disparity, he argued, necessitates active public engagement to question the allocation and utilization of these additional funds.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Falana underscored the critical need for Nigerians to actively question how these additional funds are being utilized by all levels of government, particularly given the lack of corresponding improvements in citizens' living conditions. His remarks centered on the premise that increased public funds should directly translate into better services and welfare for the populace, a translation he believes is currently lacking.

To illustrate his point on the need for localized accountability, Falana cited a specific instance concerning a road leading to Afe Babalola University in Ekiti State. He expressed bewilderment that residents were directing their appeals to the Federal Government for the road's repair, especially when the local government responsible for that area had received substantial financial allocations. Between January and May of the current year, that particular local government reportedly received approximately N5.4 billion.

Falana questioned why a portion of this significant allocation could not be directed towards fixing the road, estimating that such a project should not exceed N500 million. He further challenged the practice of state governments undertaking road projects only to seek reimbursement from the federal government, advocating instead for each tier of government to assume full responsibility for its jurisdictional duties. He stressed that citizens must begin to hold local and state governments accountable for addressing problems within their purview, rather than consistently deferring to the Federal Government.

Beyond local infrastructure, Falana extended his critique to broader economic policies, specifically questioning the tangible benefits derived from the removal of the fuel subsidy. He voiced concern that Nigerians are being perpetually asked to endure hardship and wait for the gains of economic reforms, even as many citizens grapple with deteriorating living standards. The Senior Advocate warned against a return to the era of the "fuel subsidy scam," emphasizing the urgency of demonstrating concrete advantages from such policy shifts.

Furthermore, Falana raised significant concerns regarding the management of funds previously designated for fuel importation. He noted that an estimated $10 billion annually, which was earmarked for this purpose, ought to have been saved following the subsidy removal. However, he lamented that the bulk of these funds is now reportedly being channeled towards servicing national debt, rather than being preserved or reinvested for public benefit. This redirection, he suggested, represents a fundamental problem in the nation's financial management.

Falana reiterated his core message that, at least on paper, all three tiers of government—federal, state, and local—are currently receiving increased financial allocations. This augmented revenue, he argued, places a greater onus on citizens to demand rigorous accountability. He firmly asserted that it is the duty of the Nigerian people to actively scrutinize how these funds are being spent and to ensure that public resources are utilized for the collective good. His call serves as a potent reminder that increased government revenue accountability in Nigeria is not merely a governmental responsibility but a civic imperative.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Nigeria should anticipate increased public and judicial scrutiny of government spending and revenue allocation across all tiers. This environment may lead to a rise in public interest litigation, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and regulatory investigations into public contracts and financial management, requiring enhanced due diligence for clients involved in government dealings.

Source: Reporting based on Punch Newspapers' coverage.