President Bola Tinubu has called on the media to extend the same level of scrutiny directed at the Federal Government to state and local governments across the country.
The President made the appeal on Friday while hosting media proprietors and executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, noting that sub-national governments now enjoy greater financial autonomy.
Tinubu said recent reforms by his administration had strengthened federalism, adding that local governments are now receiving their allocations directly.
He urged journalists to also monitor how those funds are utilised at the grassroots level.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money.
But how they use it is in your hands, so don’t bombard me alone. Look at local government too, and equally, the sub-national,” the President said.
The President also stated that the financial position of states had improved due to reforms introduced by his administration.
According to him, no state government is currently borrowing money to pay workers’ salaries.
Tinubu acknowledged that his government has faced strong criticism from the media but said such scrutiny has helped challenge him to perform better in office.
He added that he reads newspapers daily, describing the habit as “an addiction,” while thanking journalists for their role in promoting accountability and strengthening democracy.
