Governors Responsible For 80% Of Nigeria’s Problems – Ex-NHIS Boss
Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, has blamed state governors for worsening hardship in the country, accusing them of concealing the reality from President Bola Tinubu.
In an interview with Trust TV, Yusuf said governors are receiving more revenue under Tinubu’s administration but are failing to utilise the funds for development.
“Mr President, if they are not telling you the truth, listen to me, I’m telling you the truth that there is hunger in the land. Whatever they are telling you is not true and your government is not doing anything at all to address this tragedy that is befalling our people in a country of plenty,” he said.
He dismissed the federal government’s conditional cash transfer programme, questioning the reported ₦419 billion disbursed. “I heard one of the ministers said that they have given ₦419 billion conditional cash transfer. Hello, shouldn’t that number make you chuckle? Who did they give it to?”
Yusuf accused governors of mismanaging excess revenue following fuel subsidy removal. “The President, everybody will commend you after the removal of subsidy, you have enough excess that you keep some in your pocket and you throw some at the governors. The governors have seen a lot more money but there is nothing to show on the ground. All they are doing is running around the world, building bridges and building houses all over the world when our people are dying of hunger,” he said.
The former NHIS boss stressed that governors, not the presidency, are responsible for creating jobs, building schools, and providing healthcare at the grassroots.
“Even during Buhari, I said over 80 percent of our problems in Nigeria all across the geopolitical zones are the governors. It’s not the central government that will provide employment locally to people, it’s the governors that have stifled the local governments all this time. It’s not the presidency that would build schools or hospitals,” he added.
Yusuf criticised Tinubu’s effort to free local governments from governors’ control, saying it has achieved little as state leaders continue to hold on to funds.
“The governors are still holding onto their funds and we don’t see anything. We don’t just sit here in Abuja, we go home and see the sufferings of our people. The governors get a lot more money, we see them in SUVs, private jets, dancing ‘Omo Ologo’ as if all is well,” he said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
