Senator Gbenga Daniel has challenged the Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun to account for the state’s significantly increased federal allocations. Speaking at the commissioning of the Renewed Hope International Market in Igode, Sagamu, on Sunday, Daniel praised President Bola Tinubu, while firing a thinly veiled but potent demand for transparency at the state government.
The senator’s call for accountability comes amid a widely reported surge in monthly revenue allocations to all three tiers of government following the removal of the fuel subsidy and other economic reforms by the Tinubu administration. According to a recent report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), total FAAC disbursements to the three tiers of government soared by 43% in 2024, reaching a historic high of N15.26 trillion. State governments, in particular, saw a massive 62% increase in their share of the funds, from N3.58 trillion in 2023 to N5.81 trillion in 2024.
Daniel, a former Ogun governor himself, highlighted this financial windfall in his speech, telling the crowd, “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.” The statement is a direct hit at the Dapo Abiodun-led administration, which has faced past accusations of diverting local government funds. In August 2023, the chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo, accused the governor of withholding federal allocations to local governments, a claim the state government denied, stating it was “augmenting” the funds.
While the exact figures for Ogun State’s monthly allocations under the Tinubu administration have not been publicly detailed by the state government, reports from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) confirm a nationwide surge in disbursements. For instance, a ThisDay report cited the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, who stated that the total net statutory revenue and VAT allocation to states and local governments increased to N991.81 billion in June 2025, a massive leap from N458.81 billion in May 2023.
Analysts noted that Daniel’s public demand is a shrewd political move, placing the onus on Governor Abiodun to demonstrate how the increased funds are being used to alleviate the economic hardship faced by citizens. By aligning himself with President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” and showcasing his own philanthropic projects–like the market commissioning and free eye surgeries–Daniel is subtly positioning himself as a more effective and transparent leader. The launch of his new “BATOGD Movement” at the same event restates the former governor’s political structure’s direct allegiance to the federal centre.
