Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has expressed his concerns over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent push for complete autonomy of local governments from state authorities.
Governor Mohammed argues that, while the federal government has secured a Supreme Court ruling to grant financial independence to local governments, this move may weaken the effectiveness of state governance.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Governor Mohammed contended that state governors today wield significantly less influence than in the past, particularly under the current administration. “Governors are chief executives in their states, but our powers have been curtailed by President Tinubu,” he said, highlighting that states cannot function effectively without close coordination with both local governments and federal authorities.
He continued, “When Tinubu was governor, he had full control over the local governments he created. Now, he expects us to avoid interference or collaboration with local governments—how is that feasible? The majority of Nigerians live within state and local government jurisdictions, while only Abuja is directly under federal management. Effective governance and security require cooperation and shared resources.”
Governor Mohammed also criticized the federal government’s allocation of national resources, noting that the majority of funds are controlled by federal authorities while states face limited resources to meet the expectations of their citizens. He cited what he views as inefficient use of federal funds: “They claim inflation concerns when asked to increase state funding, yet we see inflated contracts for unnecessary projects. States need railways, not more roads, but contracts are often awarded contrary to actual needs.”
Addressing public perception, he added, “The power of governors is often overstated. It’s more about overcoming challenges than exercising authority. We respect the president, but that respect should be mutual, not used as a means to sideline us.”
