States now get my eight-year allocation in months, Ex-Borno gov Sheriff

Some Nigerian states are now receiving federal allocations within months that previously took eight years to accumulate, according to former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff. Sheriff, who governed Borno from 2003 to 2011, credited President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms for this significant increase in revenue distribution.

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If you go online today and look at the allocations to states, look at the ten highest state allocations, you’ll see that some states got as much as N55 billion in one month.

Sheriff made these remarks during a Channels Television interview, defending Tinubu's economic policies. He highlighted the removal of the fuel subsidy as a key factor, explaining that it has boosted the revenue available for distribution to states through the Federation Account Allocation Committee. Sheriff stated that during his eight years as governor, Borno received approximately 150 billion naira in total federal allocations. In contrast, he noted that some states now receive up to 55 billion naira in monthly allocations, meaning they can now receive in two to three months what Borno received over eight years.

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In my eight years in governance, my total allocation was about N150 billion for eight years. This is what one state now gets in two or three months. If you go by what’s on record, you’ll see that Tinubu has done a lot.

Defending the fuel subsidy removal, Sheriff argued that it was necessary to avert a fiscal crisis, stating that without it, the country might not have been able to meet its financial obligations. He emphasized that the funds saved were not personal but were instead distributed to the states. Sheriff suggested that Tinubu's actions deserve commendation for moving the country forward, rather than condemnation.

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If, at the time, Tinubu had not removed the fuel subsidy, this country wouldn’t even have been able to pay its bills for that month. And not only that, he did not take the money for himself; he gave it to the states.

Addressing the issue of insecurity, Sheriff pointed out that while it is a federal responsibility, state governments also have constitutional roles to play. He implied that the current economic reforms are part of a broader strategy for national progress. Sheriff's comments come amidst criticism of Tinubu's administration, including calls for resignation over worsening security situations.

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I don’t take a brief for His Excellency the President, but I can tell you for sure that what President Tinubu has done in this country to move it forward deserves your kudos, not your condemnation.