Key Points

• Radda says the Federal Government receives 52 percent of federation revenue.

• He urges Nigerians to stop blaming state governors alone for economic hardship.

• The governor defends capital projects as a way to create jobs and boost local economies.

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda has urged Nigerians to stop directing blame solely at state governors over the country’s deepening economic hardship, saying the Federal Government controls more than half of the nation’s federation revenue.

Radda made the remarks during an interview on the Hausa programme of Radio France Internationale, where he spoke on public frustration over rising living costs and declining household incomes.

Revenue Sharing And Public Anger

Radda said public anger often targets governors and local government chairmen whenever economic conditions worsen, despite what he described as an uneven revenue-sharing arrangement.

According to him, the Federal Government receives 52 percent of monthly allocations from the Federation Account, while the remaining 48 percent is shared among the 36 states and 774 local governments.

He said the structure leaves subnational governments under pressure to meet growing social and economic demands with limited resources.

Questions Over Federal Spending

The governor questioned how revenues retained at the federal level over several decades have been spent, urging Nigerians to look beyond state governments when assessing responsibility for the country’s economic challenges.

He said the Federal Government has historically received the largest share of national revenue and should be held accountable for how those funds have been used.

His comments come at a time of heightened scrutiny over public spending following the removal of fuel subsidy, which led to increased allocations to all tiers of government.

Corruption Claims And Accountability

Radda also pushed back against widespread allegations that governors are uniformly corrupt, describing such claims as unfair generalisations.

He said leadership should be assessed on an individual basis and argued that integrity varies from one public office holder to another.

The governor added that elected officials would ultimately be judged by their actions and performance in office.

Capital Projects As Economic Support

Radda defended continued spending on capital projects despite economic hardship, saying such investments help stimulate local economies.

He said infrastructure projects create jobs, provide income for labourers, and generate business for suppliers and traders within communities.

According to him, increased economic activity is already visible in several local government areas where funds have reached the grassroots.