“Hardship: FG Gets 52% of Federation Revenue — Stop Blaming Governors Alone,” Says Katsina Governor
As economic hardship continues to bite Nigerians across the country, Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has challenged the common narrative that state governors alone are responsible for the nation’s worsening economic conditions — pointing instead to how federal revenue allocation is structured.
Governor Radda, also Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum, made these remarks in an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI) Hausa service. His comments add a new dimension to the debate over responsibility for social and economic distress — urging citizens to look beyond easy explanations and consider deeper fiscal realities.
The Revenue Sharing Imbalance
At the heart of Radda’s argument is Nigeria’s FAAC (Federation Account) revenue distribution formula, under which the Federal Government receives 52 % of shared monthly revenue, with the remaining 48 % distributed among the 36 states and 774 local government areas.
This allocation has significant implications:
- The federal government controls more than half of shared revenue, giving it broader fiscal power.
- States and local governments operate with less than half the pooled revenue, despite being on the frontlines of service delivery.
- Citizens often direct public frustration toward subnational leaders — even though they have more limited financial resources under the current formula.
According to Radda, many Nigerians fail to account for how much of the national purse is actually controlled by the centre, and this skews the blame game around hardship.
“Where Has the Money Gone?” — A Provocative Question
Governor Radda did not stop at outlining the revenue share. He challenged Nigerians to reflect on decades of federal control over revenue and ask penetrating questions about its usage.
“For decades, the Federal Government has been receiving the larger share of federation revenue,” Radda said. “So the question Nigerians should be asking is: where has the bulk of that money gone?”
This line of questioning strikes at a broader accountability issue — not just who gets how much, but how effectively the funds are used to improve living conditions, create jobs, and stimulate growth.
Corruption Allegations and Leadership Integrity
Responding to frequent corruption accusations levelled at governors, the Katsina governor argued that such generalisations are neither fair nor productive.
“Leadership is about individual integrity. It is wrong to generalise and label everyone the same way,” he said, emphasising that public officials should be judged on personal performance and not broad stereotypes.
His stance highlights the tension between popular perceptions of corruption and the realities of public finance — especially when debates about hardship mix economic, political, and ethical dimensions.
Capital Projects and Local Impact
Radda also defended his administration’s continued investment in capital projects, asserting that infrastructural spending plays a key role in stimulating grassroots economies.
“When you execute capital projects, you create jobs and bring money down to the people,” the governor said. He explained that immediate economic benefits — such as labourers earning wages, food vendors selling more, and suppliers benefiting — demonstrate a way to channel public funds into community upliftment.
According to him, these projects have already sparked notable economic activity in local government areas across Katsina State.
What This Means for National Conversations on Hardship
Radda’s remarks inject nuance into a national debate that has sometimes been dominated by simple narratives. By spotlighting revenue distribution and fiscal power structures, the governor is calling for a more holistic understanding of where responsibility lies.
Key takeaways include:
- The Federal Government’s share of revenue significantly exceeds that of states and local governments.
- Nigerians may be misdirecting anger toward those who have less fiscal leverage.
- Calls for accountability should encompass all levels of governance, especially where resource control is concentrated.
- Investments in capital projects can have tangible benefits when executed transparently and strategically.
Conclusion
Governor Dikko Radda’s remarks remind Nigerians that economic hardship is a multi-layered issue that can’t be pinned solely on governors or local administrators. With the Federal Government controlling a majority of shared revenue, tough questions about fiscal priorities, accountability, and governance at the centre are as relevant as ever.
Read the full story on Vanguard Nigeria to understand this developing conversation about hardship and government revenue distribution.
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