Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for implementing what he described as bold Economic Reforms, saying the measures have significantly increased the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account.
Sule said the state’s monthly allocation, which previously stood at between N3.8 billion and N4.5 billion, has risen to approximately N16 billion following the implementation of the Federal Government’s Economic Reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The governor made the remarks in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, while receiving members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Tour, led by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The delegation, comprising presidential media aides and more than 50 senior journalists, is touring North-Central states to inspect federal and state government projects and assess their impact on communities.
According to Sule, the increase in federal revenue has provided Nasarawa with greater fiscal space to execute major infrastructure and development projects across the state.
He explained that before the reforms, the resources available to the three tiers of government were significantly lower, limiting the state’s ability to undertake large-scale capital projects.
Sule acknowledged that some of the Economic Reforms initially created hardship for Nigerians, particularly following the removal of the fuel subsidy. However, he said the President demonstrated political courage by taking responsibility for difficult decisions that previous administrations had repeatedly postponed.
The governor said effective communication was necessary to help citizens understand the objectives of policies that might initially be unpopular but were designed to strengthen the economy and improve government’s ability to provide public services.
He said Tinubu effectively “took the bullet” on behalf of state and local governments by implementing the reforms, which he said had resulted in increased financial resources for the sub-national governments.
“Today, we are beginning to see the benefits because the resources available to us have increased tremendously,” Sule said.
Also Read:Â DSS arrests fleeing kidnappers of Nasarawa Varsity don
The governor said the additional revenue had enabled his administration to embark on projects covering road infrastructure, industrialization, education, healthcare and water supply, among other sectors.
He also highlighted the importance of transparency in the use of the increased resources, noting that his administration publicly discloses the cost of government contracts so residents can assess how public funds are being spent.
Sule further commended the Renewed Hope Ambassadors media team for undertaking the nationwide tour, describing it as an opportunity for Nigerians to see government projects beyond official statements and political narratives.
During the visit to Nasarawa, the team inspected several completed projects, including the multi-billion-naira state secretariat housing the Ministries of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Justice.
The delegation also inspected a 1-megawatt solar farm powering the secretariat along Shendam Road.
Other projects visited included the completed 16-kilometre Makurdi bypass in Lafia, which connects Nasarawa and Benue states, the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Skills Acquisition Centre, the Shinge Waterstorm Channel and the completed Kilema Bridge along the Lafia-Doma Road.
Speaking during the tour, Onanuga also defended the government’s Economic Reforms, describing Tinubu’s decision to remove the fuel subsidy and introduce changes to the foreign exchange system as measures that had been necessary for decades.
He recalled that Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in 2023, before subsequently introducing changes to the naira’s exchange-rate system.
Onanuga acknowledged that the reforms contributed to inflation and increased economic pressure during their initial phase but argued that conditions had subsequently begun to improve.
He also praised Governor Sule for publicly supporting the President’s reform programme during its early and difficult stages.
The renewed focus on Economic Reforms comes amid continued debate over the impact of government policies on household incomes, inflation and the finances of state governments.
For Nasarawa, however, Sule said the increased allocation had provided his administration with greater capacity to fund development projects and respond to the needs of residents.
He expressed optimism that continued implementation of the Economic Reforms would further strengthen the finances of states and local governments, enabling them to undertake more transformative projects across the country.
Prompt News Online
