A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Ayiri Emami, has criticised state governors for underperforming in the face of unprecedented revenue allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Emami expressed dismay that governors were not matching the increased monthly allocations with tangible developmental outcomes, especially after the removal of fuel subsidy.
According to Emami, “Since the Federal Government removed the subsidy and started remitting more money to states, the governors are supposed to take responsibility for the wellbeing of their people. But what we are seeing is that most of them simply don’t care.”
He noted that the bulk of public complaints are directed at the Federal Government, even though states now receive significantly higher allocations.
“The President should monitor what state governors are doing with these funds,” Emami stated. “Everybody is focusing on the Federal Government, but it’s time we start holding our governors accountable.”
His remarks followed the release of FAAC’s latest disbursement figures, showing that N1.818 trillion was shared among the federal, state, and local governments as revenue for June 2025—the highest monthly allocation recorded so far this year.
Details from the communiqué issued after the FAAC meeting in Abuja indicate that the allocation includes:
N1.018 trillion from statutory revenue,
N631.507 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT),
N29.165 billion from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL),
N38.849 billion from exchange difference revenue, and
N100 billion from non-mineral revenue sources.
Gross revenue for the month stood at N4.232 trillion, from which N162.786 billion was deducted as cost of collection. Additionally, N2.251 trillion was allocated for transfers, interventions, refunds, and savings.
June’s allocation represents a substantial rise from May’s N1.659 trillion, April’s N1.681 trillion, and March’s N1.578 trillion, underlining the fiscal windfall states have received in recent months.
Emami’s comments also came amid disclosures that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently investigating at least 18 state governors over allegations of financial misconduct. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede recently revealed that several sitting governors were under scrutiny for questionable financial practices.
Observers say the combination of increased allocations and rising corruption investigations points to a critical need for greater transparency and accountability at the sub-national level.
“It’s not just about money being shared,” Emami added. “The real issue is: what are these governors doing with the money? If nothing is changing at the grassroots, then something is clearly wrong.”
