Opinion
Revenue: Governors Should Look Elsewhere
The recent decision by state governors to seek legal redress at the Supreme Court over a purported illegal deduction of funds by the Federal Government, gives one a cause for concern.
The governors resolved to challenge the continuing deductions from the federation account towards offsetting oil subsidy payments and excess crude account which they have termed unconstitutional withdrawals by the Federal Government.
Deductions for petroleum subsidy have constantly put state governors on collision course with the Federal Government. Pressures from the governors to stop the withdrawals contributed to President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to end petrol subsidy in January which was quickly reversed following street protests.
The unabating opposition of governors to the various deductions made by the Federal Government may be a sign of dwindling economic fortunes in the respective states. I often wonder why it is hard for the states to generate revenue internally and depend less on funds accruing from the federation account.
The Senate has expressed similar anxiety and accused state governors of being responsible for the depreciating financial opulence of the states. The Senators were convinced that states could do more in revenue generation than the current situation where they rely heavily on proceeds from the federation account.
I agree with the highly vilified position of the Senate. Economic indices show that states are likely to face financial cataclysm if urgent steps are not taken to avert it. It is appalling that nearly all the states depend fully on statutory allocations from both the federation and excess crude accounts, which are in turn dependent on the volatile oil market.
A review of the economic factors in the states demonstrates that they are truly facing an imminent danger. And this is responsible for their continued call on the Federal Government to share the proceeds of the excess crude account to meet their growing cost of governance.
Since the inception of the excess crude account, so much money has been shared, with nothing to show for it in most states. For example, $1.5bn was shared in three instalments from the excess crude account in 2011, and the states received $400.8m. The final payment amounted to $500m.
One would think that this money, added to the regular monthly allocation, should be sufficient to meet the basic needs of each state. But this is a far cry from it. The huge debt profile of the states, which has resulted in considerable deductions from their allocations for the settling of both their domestic and foreign debts, have impoverished them. Many of them have mortgaged their share of the monthly provisions from the federation account to service such debts.
It is shocking that the total debt standing against the states as at December 2011 was an immense $2.165bn. This is in addition to the various local financial institutions they are indebted to. Most of these loans are deducted directly from their monthly statutory allocations.
Although, the deductions made by the Federal Government from the federation account before the funds are disbursed to states and local governments are quite huge, states ought not to be bankrupt given the ensuing resources. As we may know, most state governments find it complex to meet the obligations they owe their people owing to mismanagement of their resources.
We are in an era when government must endeavour to cautiously utilies limited resources available to it for the common good of the people. Many state governors have failed in this respect because the system that produces them cannot guarantee the election of credible people to manage our resources.
Our governors should stop complaining and know how to stimulate economic resources in their states. I don’t agree that states are poor. Many of them lack the wherewithal to manage resources. That is why I have always believed that every state can pay the N18,000 minimum wage conveniently. Because governors think that the excess crude account is illegal, they have practically crippled the Sovereign Wealth Fund and made it difficult for it to work.
The practice whereby monthly ‘handout’s are given to governors without which nothing works in the states, has to stop. Any governor who desires additional funds should wish for corresponding responsibilities.
Arnold Alalibo
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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