A Call To Nigerian Governors: Wake Up And Take Charge of Your State’s Economic Destiny By Comr. Opayemi Nathaniel Kayode
It is high time we faced an uncomfortable truth: Nigeria is failing economically, and the blame lies not just at the feet of the federal government but also squarely on the shoulders of state governors. For too long, many governors have been content to live off federal allocations while neglecting the vast economic potential of their states.
This dependency culture must end. Each state in Nigeria has the resources, talent, and opportunity to chart its economic future—yet most continue to invest in luxury, unproductive ventures, and shallow political gimmicks.
Lagos State stands as the glaring exception. Despite its challenges, Lagos generates more internally generated revenue (IGR) than the other 35 states combined. How is it that one state can outstrip the entire nation in productivity? The answer is vision, planning, and execution. While other governors whine about insufficient federal allocations, Lagos consistently proves that with determination and strategic focus, a state can thrive independently.
Stop the Excuses: Build Economic Teams.
Every state in Nigeria has untapped potential. From agriculture to solid minerals, tourism to tech, manufacturing to services—there is no state without at least one comparative advantage. Yet, most governors have failed to harness these opportunities.
Governors must urgently establish dedicated economic teams composed of professionals, not political cronies. These teams should develop concrete, measurable plans to transform their states into hubs of productivity and innovation.
What is your 10-year plan for industrialization? What are your strategies for attracting local and foreign investments? How are you reforming tax collection to ensure efficiency without stifling businesses?
If your answer to these questions is silence, then you have no business in leadership.
Luxury Must Go: Focus on Development.
It is appalling that in a country where poverty and unemployment are widespread, governors still prioritize luxury projects and ostentatious lifestyles. Lavish government houses, convoys of exotic cars, and endless trips abroad have become symbols of power while citizens languish. This wastefulness must stop.
Redirect these resources to build infrastructure, fund education, and support businesses. Every governor should ask themselves: What will my legacy be? Will I be remembered as a leader who transformed my state or as one who squandered its potential?
Tax Reforms Are a Wake-Up Call.
The recently proposed Tax Reform Act has sparked debates across the country, but it should be seen as an opportunity for states to wake up. Reliance on federal allocations is no longer sustainable. Governors must now focus on expanding their IGR by creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
This is not about overburdening citizens with taxes but about fostering productivity. States should embrace reforms that encourage entrepreneurship, promote investments, and diversify their economies. Your state does not need to be another Lagos, but it must find its unique path to prosperity.
The Future Is Watching.
Governors, you are not just governing for the present generation. Your policies and actions today will shape the future of your state for decades to come. Will your state be an economic powerhouse or remain a beggar at the federal table? Will your citizens prosper, or will they continue to seek opportunities elsewhere?
Every state in Nigeria is endowed with resources that, if properly managed, could lift millions out of poverty and transform the economic landscape. The time for excuses is over. Your citizens deserve better. The future of Nigeria depends on leaders who will rise to the challenge. Will you be one of them?
Prioritize Human Capital Development
Economic prosperity starts with investing in people. Too many states have ignored education, vocational training, and skills development. A skilled and educated population is the foundation of a thriving economy. If your state is not prioritizing schools, technical institutes, and entrepreneurial training programs, you are failing.
Governors must create systems that develop human capital to attract investors and industries. Industries will not come to a state where the workforce lacks the skills they need or where basic infrastructure like roads, electricity, and water supply is nonexistent.
Exploit Your State’s Unique Strengths.
Every state in Nigeria is blessed with natural and cultural resources, but most governors fail to utilize them. Nasarawa has minerals. Ogun has vast industrial potential. Kano has a rich trading history. Rivers and Akwa Ibom are oil-producing giants, while Kebbi, Benue, and Niger could be agricultural powerhouses.
Ask yourself: What are the unique resources of your state? Once identified, build industries around them, provide incentives to investors, and create value chains that ensure benefits reach the grassroots. Governors must also focus on export markets, not just local consumption.
Local Government Autonomy: Empower the Grassroots.
A centralized system stifles development. Governors must break free from this mindset by strengthening local government institutions in their states. Ensure local governments receive their allocations directly and are held accountable. Encourage them to identify and develop micro-projects that drive development at the community level.
When grassroots governments are empowered, they become engines of growth that complement state-wide initiatives.
Create a Conducive Environment for Investment.
Governors often talk about attracting investors but fail to provide the necessary conditions for investments to thrive. Investors are looking for stability, clear regulations, access to infrastructure, and a skilled workforce.
Eliminate multiple taxation and corrupt practices in your state. Streamline business registration processes. Invest in security, as no investor will pour money into an area plagued by violence and insecurity. Provide incentives like tax holidays, land grants, and favorable policies to attract both domestic and foreign investors.
Stop Overreliance on Oil.
The era of oil dependency is over as you can see the current brouhaha on revenue-sharing formula coming this proposed tax reform bill. The global shift toward renewable energy means that oil revenue will no longer sustain Nigeria or its states. Governors in oil-producing states must prepare for a post-oil economy by diversifying now. Those in non-oil states must stop waiting for crumbs and focus on sectors like agriculture, technology, tourism, and manufacturing, to the president Nigerian economic decision should be within us not the Briton-wood decision.
Accountability and Transparency.
Corruption and mismanagement remain the biggest obstacles to development in Nigerian states. Governors must lead by example, cutting down on waste, auditing state expenditures, and ensuring transparency in budgeting. The people deserve to know how every naira is spent.
Set up systems to monitor and evaluate projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) must be pursued transparently to avoid turning them into vehicles for corruption.
Develop a Vision for the Future.
Where do you see your state in 10, 20, or 50 years? Do you even have a plan? Visionary leadership is not about managing day-to-day affairs but about building a legacy. Every state should have a development blueprint that outlives its current administration. This plan should include clear goals for infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and industrial development.
Governors must work with technocrats, business leaders, academics, and civil society to craft a vision that is realistic and achievable. Without a plan, you are simply drifting—and taking your citizens down with you.
The People Must Demand More.
Finally, the people of Nigeria must hold their governors accountable. Stop celebrating mediocrity and demanding nothing but handouts. If your governor is not delivering, vote them out. Support policies and programs that prioritize development over flashy, short-term projects.
Conclusion
Nigerian governors, your states are not destined to be perpetually dependent on federal allocations. You have the resources, power, and responsibility to transform your states into economic powerhouses. Stop waiting for handouts. Stop wasting resources on vanity projects. Start building a legacy of growth and prosperity.
Nigerian governors, the time to act is now. Your states are not condemned to be beggars at the federal table. Every state has the potential to stand on its own and thrive, but that requires visionary leadership, disciplined planning, and a commitment to hard work. The excuses have run out. The federal allocation lifeline is thinning, and the global economy is shifting in ways that demand innovation and resilience.
Stop wasting resources on vanity projects and unproductive ventures. Focus on building lasting legacies—industries, infrastructure, educated citizens, and thriving communities. If you fail to act, history will remember you as leaders who wasted your opportunity to lead your states into prosperity.
But if you rise to the challenge, you will be celebrated as the architects of a stronger, self-reliant Nigeria.
The future of your state—and the nation—depends on your decisions today. The clock is ticking. Lead boldly, or step aside for those who will.
Comr. Opayemi Nathaniel Kayode (IFA DESTINY). An Advocacy for good governance.
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