President Bola Tinubu has called on the Nigerian media to intensify scrutiny of state governments and local government councils, stressing that national development cannot be the responsibility of the Federal Government alone.
The President made the remarks on Friday while hosting media executives and proprietors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During the meeting, Tinubu urged journalists to extend the same level of oversight and criticism often directed at the Federal Government to lower tiers of government, particularly now that local government councils have gained greater financial autonomy.
According to him, the principles of federalism are being strengthened as local governments now receive their statutory allocations more directly, placing greater responsibility on them to ensure proper utilisation of public funds.
Tinubu told the gathering that the media plays a critical role in ensuring transparency and accountability across all levels of governance, not just at the federal level.
He noted that journalists should broaden their focus to include how funds allocated to state and local governments are spent, adding that the responsibility of monitoring their performance lies largely with the media.
The President also acknowledged that although challenges remain, government at all levels must manage available resources prudently to maintain stability and sustain development.
He stated that despite complaints about limited resources, governments must focus on managing what is available effectively in order to meet present needs while laying the foundation for future progress.
Tinubu further told the media executives that, based on available information, no state government is currently borrowing funds solely to pay workers’ salaries, suggesting that improved revenue flows to sub-national governments have strengthened their financial capacity.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to national development, saying his administration remains dedicated to implementing policies aimed at improving the country.
According to him, national progress requires collective effort from all stakeholders, including government institutions, the media and citizens.
Tinubu added that the task of building and sustaining the country is a shared responsibility, stressing that cooperation and accountability across all levels of governance are essential to achieving meaningful development.
