- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that state governments no longer seek bailout from the Federal Government as they are now properly funded to carry out development and payment of salaries.
Wike made the disclosure while speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today’s programme on Tuesday.
The Minister, in defense of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, recounted how state governments under previous administration often seek bailout from the Federal Government in order to pay workers’ salaries as they were poorly funded.
He held that Tinubu had within two years solved the problem by making more funds available to the state governments.
“When Buhari came, were Nigerians complaining about economy? It was not better. If you say Nigeria did not vote for Jonathan because things were bad, Nigerians also became angry for the last President who was there for eight years. Jonathan was there for five years.
“This person has just come for two years. Are you sincerely saying that within two years, you will solve all the problems of 30 years. Look at the foundation. Before, states were not able to pay salaries.
“States were going to beg Federal Government for money, bailout. Now somebody has come and said look, what was that problem? Why will governors go to Abuja everyday for bailout?
“I was one of those that took bailout from Federal Government. Things were very bad, even though we paid at the end of the day.
“Today, no state is running to Federal Government for bailout.
“Today, no local government is running to the state government for bailout which means a problem has been solved.
“There are more funds now in the hands of the states to be able to carry out development. Why was it not done before?” Wike said.
The Minister had also in the interview dismissed criticsm by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal. who alleged that Tinubu is unapproachable.
Wike, in reaction, alleged that Babachir’s criticism of the Tinubu-led administration was borne out of his anger for not being chosen as the President’s running mate during the 2023 Presidential campaign.