Wike urges citizens to demand accountability, says states now access unprecedented funds with subsidy removal 

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has urged citizens to demand accountability from their governors, crediting President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap the fuel subsidy, as a game-changer that has flooded state governments with unprecedented funds.

Speaking at his End of the Year Media Chat in Port Harcourt on Monday, he highlighted how the move has enabled states to craft annual budgets exceeding N1 trillion, a sharp departure from past allocations.

He cautioned, however, that savvy individuals are now scrambling for their portion of the “national cake,” while calling on residents to demand transparency from their leaders to ensure improved living standards.

Drawing from his own experience, Wike noted the stark contrast in funding during his tenure as Rivers State governor. “In all my life, as governor for eight years in Rivers, I never received from the Federation Account more than N200 billion in a year.

The records are there,” he said. “States are now making a budget of over a trillion because the removal of fuel subsidy has now made money available to the states and so most of them are blindfolded.”

Wike also addressed the FCT’s financial constraints, revealing that it receives just 1% of the federal government’s federation account share—a fraction he claims falls short for basic operations. “Take for example, if FG gets N1 trillion, 1 per cent is N10 million and that is not enough to pay salary. I will have to go back to Internally Generated Revenue, but look at what is happening in Abuja?” he remarked. “With the little we have got, we have been able to do the best that we can for the residents of FCT.”

Despite these limits, the minister boasted of transformative projects underway. He promised “wonders” with even N500 billion in the FCT coffers and outlined interventions in infrastructure, education, health, and agriculture. “This, in the long run, will improve the standard of living of the people,” he said.

Wike compared optimism with realism, warning that “money has its own limitations” and goodwill often unlocks doors cash cannot.