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Tinubu Urges Media to Scrutinise States, LGs over Public Funds

Published

8 months ago

March 14, 2026

Q Tinny

Tinubu media scrutiny states local governments call as president urges journalists to hold subnational governments accountable for public funds

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerian media executives to extend the same level of scrutiny they apply to the Federal Government to state and local governments, which he said now enjoy greater financial autonomy.

Also read: Tinubu Approves Fiscal Incentives for Bonga Southwest Project

The president made the call on Friday night while hosting media proprietors and executives at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Tinubu said reforms implemented by his administration had strengthened the principle of federalism by ensuring that local governments receive their allocations directly.

“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money. But how they use it is in your hand, so don’t bombard me alone.

“Look at local government too, and equally, the sub-national,” the president said.

He also stated that no state government in the country was currently borrowing money to pay workers’ salaries, attributing the improvement to economic reforms introduced by his administration.

“Today, there is no state that is borrowing to pay salaries of employees. Yes, we can complain it’s not enough. We can complain we are not where we should be, but we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress,” Tinubu said.

Many of Nigeria’s 36 states had previously relied on federal bailouts and loans to meet salary obligations, particularly during periods of declining oil revenue and economic downturns.

According to the administration, allocations to states and local governments have increased through improved revenue collection by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, now renamed the National Revenue Service, higher crude oil production and direct payments to local governments following a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 2024 granting fiscal autonomy to councils.

Tinubu thanked media owners for their criticisms, saying they pushed him to perform better, especially during the early days of his administration.

“Thank you for inspiring me and challenging me in critical moments of my life. You didn’t spare me, but you challenged me,” he said.

The president also revealed that he reads newspapers every morning, describing the habit as an “addiction.”

“There is no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction,” he said.

Tinubu defended key policy decisions taken by his government, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in May 2023, stating that the move was necessary to prevent economic collapse.

“We had to confront the subsidy. Nigeria was cheating on the edge of bankruptcy. But having asked for the job and getting it, I couldn’t look back other than make corrections as I move along, save the nation and bring it back from the brink,” he said.

He maintained that Nigeria had since stabilised its economy, citing improvements in foreign exchange management and efforts to curb inflation.

The president also dismissed the idea of labelling critics as enemies, noting that constructive criticism contributes to national development.

“I don’t categorise anybody as arch-critical. I see them as simulators who can build a nation. We all want good for this country,” Tinubu said.

Acknowledging the economic challenges facing media organisations, the president said he was aware of the difficulties associated with funding and sustaining operations in the current global economic climate.

He added that issues surrounding tariffs affecting the media industry were discussed earlier in the day and promised to take necessary action where required.

Also read: Tinubu Approves Omokri, Fani-Kayode Ambassadorial Posts

Friday’s meeting, held as part of the final Iftar gathering for the 2026 Ramadan season, brought together media executives from print, broadcast and digital platforms across the country.

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Probe Into Fake Federal Agencies Not Over, ICPC Insists

Published

13 hours ago

November 8, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said its investigation into the alleged operation of fake federal agencies within the Federal Government is still ongoing, despite the reinstatement of two permanent secretaries suspended over the matter.

The commission maintained that it stood by its earlier findings that other purported fake agencies had been discovered during its investigations, adding that further action would be announced when the process was concluded.

ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, disclosed this while responding to an enquiry on the status of the investigation in Abuja.

He said the commission was still examining the allegations and had yet to decide whether the findings would result in further court action.

“The ICPC stands by what it said about finding out in the course of our investigations that there were some other fake agencies. Investigations are ongoing.

“As usual, when the ICPC is ready to either go to court or not to go to court, we would let you know. But for now, investigations are ongoing. Let it be on record that the ICPC stands by what it said before,” Odey said.

The commission had on August 21, 2026, announced the discovery of a purported fake federal agency operating under the name National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office.

The ICPC alleged that the organisation was promoted by George Buchi Nwabueze, with the suspected involvement of senior public servants in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

Following the disclosure, President Bola Tinubu ordered Nwabueze’s arrest and the suspension of three permanent secretaries: Mohammed Danjuma, Nandungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwa.

The discovery emerged during the commission’s wider investigation into the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which was allegedly operated by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.

The ICPC had earlier reported that its investigation into the PFIPC uncovered two other purported organisations allegedly linked to Adeyemi: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.

According to the commission, the investigation found that the PFIPC was not established by any law, executive order or other valid government instrument. It also alleged that documents presented to support the organisation’s existence, including an appointment letter, were forged.

The commission further said there was no evidence that Federal Government funds had been approved or disbursed to the purported council.

However, Nwabueze denied the allegation that the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office was fake, insisting that the project office had existed within the OSGF since July 16, 2010.

He questioned why an initiative that had allegedly been operating for 16 years was suddenly being described as fictitious.

Meanwhile, two of the three permanent secretaries suspended following the discovery have since been reinstated.

Mohammed Danjuma, Permanent Secretary, Finance (Special Duties), was reinstated following presidential approval conveyed in a letter dated October 22, 2026, by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Olumuyiwa Abel. His reinstatement took effect on October 21.

Similarly, Richard Pheelangwa, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, resumed duty on November 3 after the Federal Government lifted his suspension.

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, formally welcomed Pheelangwa back to the ministry, according to a statement by the minister’s media adviser, Leah Katung-Babatunde.

The reinstatements have, however, not brought the ICPC investigation to an end, as the commission says it is continuing efforts to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged operations of the purported agencies and identify anyone who may have facilitated them.