The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, said states no longer run around looking for money.
Wike said President Bola Tinubu’s administration has made it possible for states to have more money than previous administrations.
He spoke at the flag-off of the construction of the main carriageways of Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Ring Road I Junction to Ring Road II Junction along Wasa Road, by Shoprite Junction in Apo area of the FCT.
He recalled how he used to source for funds when he was governor of Rivers State for eight years but Tinubu changed the narrative.
Wike said: “I have told people to know this and let every state be sincere to there people and Nigerians. I was a governor for eight years and I was running around banks to look for money to do projects.
“Sometimes in every month, the money that would come will not be enough for paying of salaries and all other allowances, not to talk about doing projects.
“Today, by the leadership of somebody who has made it possible for all the states and the FCT not to be running around banks again, banks are now looking for states to say ‘look, don’t throw us away, we are here’
“Somebody by his leadership has made that possible and every state now has money not only to pay salaries, carry out government activities but embark on projects.
“It was not like that before, so if for that reason that so many people are going to support Mr President I think it’s worth a while. I don’t see how somebody makes governance easy for you. Now no governor will talk about leaving debt for his successor, unlike what used to happen before.”
Wike noted that Tinubu’s decisive decision to end fuel subsidy has emboldened states to pay salaries.
“If Tinubu has not taken the decisive step that fuel subsidy must come to an end, most states won’t have been able to pay salaries.
“Even the FCT, it would have been difficult, it doesn’t matter the party you belong to the truth must be told. When you see good leadership, say it is good leadership. And that is what this country needs for now,” he added.
