A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, has accused state governors of worsening the current economic hardship in Nigeria by mismanaging resources and concealing the true state of affairs from President Bola Tinubu.
Yusuf, who spoke during a Trust TV interview on Tuesday, said although the Tinubu administration has increased revenue allocations to states following the removal of fuel subsidy, governors have failed to channel the funds into developmental projects that would ease citizens’ suffering.
“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,” Yusuf declared.
“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.”
The ex-NHIS boss alleged that governors were squandering the increased federal allocations on personal luxuries rather than using them to improve education, healthcare, and job creation at the grassroots level.
According to him, over 80 percent of Nigeria’s problems can be traced to governors who have stifled local governments and diverted funds meant for development.
“It’s not the central government that will provide employment locally; it is the governors that have stifled the local governments all this time. It’s not the presidency that would build schools or hospitals,” he said.
Yusuf also criticised the Federal Government’s conditional cash transfer programme, questioning the claim that ₦419 billion had been disbursed to vulnerable Nigerians.
“I heard one of the ministers said they have given ₦419 billion conditional cash transfer. Hello, shouldn’t that number make you chuckle? Who did they give it to?” he queried.
He faulted state leaders for flaunting wealth while millions of citizens struggle to survive.
“The governors get a lot more money, we see them in SUVs, private jets, dancing ‘Omo Ologo’ as if all is well, while our people are dying of hunger,” he said.
Yusuf maintained that Tinubu’s effort to free local governments from governors’ grip had made little impact, insisting that state leaders still hold on tightly to grassroots funds.
“All they are doing is running around the world, building bridges and buying houses overseas when our people are suffering at home,” he lamented.
The outspoken professor, who has consistently criticised state executives across political administrations, urged Tinubu to look beyond the governors’ briefings and confront the reality of rising poverty and hunger in the country.
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