Address Poverty, Not Delegate to Governors – Falana Urges Tinubu

A human rights attorney and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has urged President Bola Tinubu to lead the effort to combat the nation's pervasive poverty instead of just pressuring states to take action.

Falana cited the president's comments during a recent meeting with governors chosen on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in which Tinubu acknowledged the terrible economic realities that Nigerians confront as a result of neoliberal policies, in a statement released on Sunday.

"Nigerians are still complaining at the grassroots level," Falana said, quoting the President. "It is your responsibility as governors to provide Nigerians with progressive change and to water the grass more. May we be blessed with more fertile fields and a democracy."

Falana, however, asked the Federal Government to show leadership by properly supporting current welfare programs rather than relying solely on appeals.

Falana asked President Bola Tinubu to make sure that the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act is accepted and signed into law by the 36 state governments, he said, rather than pleading with them to "wet ground more."

The senior lawyer emphasised that governments at all levels should concentrate on enacting effective social programs to lessen suffering among the population rather than spending billions on state house renovations.

Falana said that the ₦39 billion that was allegedly spent on renovating the International Conference Centre in Abuja was far greater than the ₦32.7 billion that the Federal Government allocated to the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in 2025.

“A government that recently claimed to have spent the sum of ₦39 billion for the renovation of the International Conference Centre at Abuja at the Federal Capital Territory cannot justify the allocation of ₦32.7 billion to fund the National Social Investment Programmes for 2025 to support the 133 million people that are said to be multi-dimensionally poor in the country,” he argued.

He questioned the legitimacy of a system that severely underfunds important social programs while giving parliamentarians enormous monthly emoluments (₦21 million for senators and ₦15 million for members of the House of Representatives).

Falana stated that the same urgency must be extended to the social sector, citing the Federal Executive Council's recent approval of ₦3.5 trillion for roads, airports, and other facilities.

"Therefore, it is imperative that the Federal Executive Council approve at least ₦5 trillion to fund the National Social Investment Program," he stated.

To guarantee transparency and efficacy, the SAN suggested that elected representatives of labour unions and reputable civil society organisations be included in the management of such a fund rather than leaving it entirely in the hands of government officials.