By Folake Sokoya
Senator Gbenga Daniel has thrown a direct challenge at Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, demanding accountability over the state’s rising federal allocations.
Daniel, who spoke on Sunday at the commissioning of the Renewed Hope International Market in Igode, Sagamu, commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms while pointedly reminding state governors of their duty to citizens.
“The fallout of fuel subsidy removal is that more funds have been returned to states and local governments. Their allocations have increased more than fourfold, and governors must now give a good account of this generosity from the President,” Daniel declared.
His statement comes against the backdrop of a historic surge in revenue disbursements to the three tiers of government. According to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), total FAAC allocations jumped by 43 percent in 2024 to N15.26 trillion, with states enjoying a 62 percent rise from N3.58 trillion in 2023 to N5.81 trillion in 2024.
For instance, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, recently confirmed that statutory revenue and VAT allocations to states and local governments climbed to N991.81 billion in June 2025, more than double the N458.81 billion recorded in May 2023.
Though Ogun State’s specific receipts under Tinubu’s administration have not been publicly disclosed, Daniel’s remarks tap into growing concerns about transparency. Governor Abiodun had previously been accused in August 2023 by Wale Adedayo, then chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, of withholding federal allocations to councils, an allegation the state government denied, insisting it had only been “augmenting” the funds.
Analysts say Daniel’s latest salvo is both political and strategic. By praising Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda while questioning Abiodun’s financial stewardship, the senator positioned himself as an advocate for accountability. His simultaneous unveiling of the “BATOGD Movement” and ongoing philanthropic gestures, such as free eye surgeries, further reinforced his relevance in Ogun’s political landscape.
Observers believe the call has placed Abiodun on the defensive, as citizens grapple with economic hardship and look for tangible evidence of how federal windfalls are improving their lives.
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