The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has raised concern over what it described as a troubling lack of accountability and misuse of public resources by political office holders across Nigeria, particularly at the state level.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise programme on Saturday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, criticized state governors for being disconnected from the needs of the people, often engaging in wasteful spending instead of focusing on critical infrastructure.
“Most Nigerians today view their governors as wasteful in their use of government resources,” Oluwadare said. “This perception reflects the growing poverty across the country and points to a deeper problem of governance.”
He further noted that while the President wields significant influence over economic decisions due to the structure of Nigeria’s federal system, the lack of proactive leadership has allowed impunity to flourish.
“The President doesn’t need a reminder from the US government to know the state of the nation,” he added. “As Commander-in-Chief, he has the authority and responsibility to guide not just the national economy but also ensure governors are held to account.”
Oluwadare accused many governors of prioritizing vanity projects over essential services and development.
“You see governors building massive structures while neglecting roads, schools, and hospitals. These decisions reflect misplaced priorities and a failure to meet public expectations,” he said.
He also lamented the erosion of public trust in leadership, blaming a culture of impunity that has taken root due to weak enforcement of constitutional responsibilities.
“Governance is about public trust, and that trust should be rooted in the office, not in the individual who occupies it. This is the only way to build systems that hold leaders accountable regardless of who is in power,” he explained.
He called for stronger institutional frameworks and civic engagement to demand transparency and responsible governance from all public officials, stressing that the future of Nigeria depends on restoring accountability in both state and federal institutions.