US President-elect Donald Trump is swiftly assembling his administration, appointing key allies to central positions in a bid to kickstart his policy agenda even before inauguration day.

Within days of his election win, Trump has moved to fill crucial roles, appointing well-known loyalists and signaling his intention to circumvent Senate confirmations for some positions.

Among the prominent appointments, Trump has chosen Tom Homan, a hardline advocate for strict immigration enforcement, as “border czar,” entrusting him with overseeing immigration and deportation policies.

Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is well-known for his tough stance on immigration, aligning with Trump’s campaign promise to aggressively combat illegal immigration.

Additionally, New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a close Trump ally and vocal supporter of Israel, has been picked by Trump for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik’s nomination, if confirmed by the Senate, comes as the U.N. faces challenges from ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, where she is expected to play a critical role in representing U.S. interests and supporting allies.

Stephen Miller, a former senior advisor known for his staunch anti-immigration views, is also expected to return as Deputy Chief of Staff. His reappointment suggests a continuity of Trump’s strict immigration policies and signals an emphasis on border security and deportations.

Trump, a former US President, had on Sunday named his co-campaign manager, Susie Wiles as his New Chief of Staff.

Trump’s selection process has drawn intense scrutiny, with the president-elect reportedly encouraging Senate Republicans to support recess appointments to bypass the traditional confirmation process.

With inauguration set for January 20, Trump has begun laying the groundwork for a swift implementation of his agenda.

“As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain follies of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron” – H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920.

I was an editorial writer intern on the Editorial Board of The Baltimore Sun and later the Los Angeles Times sometimes between 1996 and 1997 but I do not think that this gives me the right or the entitlement in reflecting on the recent US Presidential elections, November 5, that the legendary H.L. Mencken, master of the English language, master columnist has been proven right on the count of every claim above. Is Donald Trump who has now stormed back as America’s 47^thPresident awaiting inauguration on January 20, 2025, a fool and a moron? He was 45th President and he has now thumped his way back in a decisive manner- the greatest comeback in American history much better than the feat recorded in 1893 by Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24^th President of the United States. In the lead up to the elections, the polls from CNN to New York/Siena predicted that the race was too close to call. There were talks about the seven swing states that would determine the election. Donald Trump has now made history by winning in all the seven battleground states: Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Pennsylvania – a landmark victory that gives him a resounding mandate to reshape America. Yet, this was/is a man who four years ago faced two impeachment trials. He was also accused of inciting an attack on the US Capitol in January 2021. He faced four criminal charges. In the course of the campaigns, two assassination attempts were made on his life. He was even branded a fascist. But he has now ended up as the people’s choice, winning both the popular vote and the electoral college vote, performing significantly better than he did in 2020. 

The magnitude of his return speaks to “the inner soul of the people” to use H.L Mencken’s words, that is the American people who have now re-hired him. At 78, he will be the oldest leader to be sworn into office in the United States. He left office in 2021. He was accused of making the Republicans perform badly in the 2022 mid-term elections. But he is back – the first convicted felon to be elected as US President. He has not just won victory for himself. He has re-invented the Republican party. The ideology of liberalism, touted much since the days of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, America’s longest serving President and a Democrat, suddenly became a byword for intolerance and rigidity as the Republican elite rose and Trump seized advantage of the confusion.  The pollsters were wrong, dead wrong. This outcome in the United States puts a mark on the value of opinion polls in the United States and the place of public opinion in democracies.  Even those members of the Republican Party who lined up behind Kamala Harris, the Democratic Presidential candidate have now been shown that it is precisely the man that they called “fascist”, vengeful and divisive that the average American has now voted for. This is about the American mind. There are perhaps more people in America like Trump than there are of the likes of Kamala Harris.

The questions have been asked: What does Trump 2.0 as the victory is otherwise called mean for America, the world and specifically Africa? Americans have embraced their choice boldly and confidently. The National Coast Guard was called out in the event that there would be a repeat of the violence seen in 2021. The election was described as a possible repeat of the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, but nothing of sort happened. It wasn’t close to call and there was no violence. Trump had threatened to challenge the results if the election was adjudged unfair by him. He didn’t have to. Even President Biden says that the thing to do is to respect the wishes of the American people because it is what they want. Most Americans, who turned out en masse – the highest turn-out figure in 50 years, voted Trump because they believed the American economy would do better with him. Despite the achievements of the Biden administration in creating jobs and bringing down inflation, the average American still thought Trump is a better economic manager. Americans held a largely negative view about their country’s economy, and they were suspicious of the incumbents. Trump has promised to place “America First”.  He is first and foremost American, so he would Make America Great Again (MAGA). In this regard, he is determined to impose his right-wing views about biology and medicare. He will drive away undocumented immigrants and make America safe for the citizens – those people from Haiti whom he says eat cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio and those from “a shithole country.” He will reduce dependency on America by the rest of the world by taking a second look at Nato, climate change and carbon emissions, the oil and gas industry and America’s relationship with the world. He will take aim at the Paris climate accord. He will ease restrictions on the oil industry’s emissions of methane. His win is not surprisingly a major win for the big money elite. All the three major US indexes have been doing well since it became clear that Trump and the Republicans were poised to win. Cryptocurrency has hit $80, 000. Billionaire Elon Musk who supported Trump has been jubilating since. Trump promoted crypto during his campaign, backing a venture that had his sons involved. In his earlier Presidency, he dismissed crypto currency as a scam.  He is forever changing his mind. And yet the people voted for him. 

His provincialism, some say nativism or isolationist approach to global politics has brought upon the world a season of great uncertainty and this has generated conversations and measures around the world about how countries and regions can best protect themselves. Less than a month ago, Russia hosted a meeting of the BRICS economic partners and invited new partners. America is the largest economy in the world and a superior power. With a man who prefers insularity to open engagements with the world, others are obliged to create a multi-polar world whereby America’s superiority can be diluted by the emergence of an alternative axis of power.  Over the weekend, the same Russia in Sochi hosted Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Africa where President Vladimir Putin pledged “total support” for African countries. Yesterday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK and President Emmanuel Macron met after Armistice Day ceremonies to discuss free trade and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump has threatened to impose a blanket tariff of 20% on imports as part of his America First agenda. This could see the UK economy losing as much as 215 billion pounds next year and affect inflation and interest rates. For about a year, China has been fighting a corrosive deflationary trend with a combination of fiscal and economic stimulus. Trump’s emergence makes China’s situation even more serious.  Russia and Ukraine, North Korea, South Korea, Iran, Taiwan are also at the epicentre of the emerging geo-politics. Trump has promised that he would solve the problem between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours. Does that mean he would force Ukraine to negotiate and cede territory? Trump’s politics has driven up the self-interest quotient in international politics. In Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim, countries are preparing for the return of Trump. America being the most powerful country in the world explains the fascination with the American election. 

Where does that leave African countries? I doubt if Africa is likely to be such a huge priority on Trump’s agenda. Immigration is likely to affect Africans, especially Nigerians very badly. In 2025, Trump has promised to end the African and Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) which was introduced by the US in 2000 to assist African countries and promote economic relations between the US and the continent. American aid and security partnerships with African countries may also be reduced. Nigerians like to think that they are such an important part of geo-politics. In the lead up to the American election many of our compatriots back home here were very emotional about the US elections as the country was divided into two camps: Trump vs. Harris. Most of the people involved in this campaign had no right to vote in the American election. There was even no way their choices would affect America’s electoral process. In Northern Nigeria, the video was shown of persons waving the American flag and declaring support for Trump. Kamala Harris supporters were all over the local media pushing the narrative that a Trump Presidency would be bad for the world and that Trump is this or that. It appeared as if Trump’s supporters were more of the right-wing evangelical extraction, with the firm opinion that anybody who mentions the name of God was bound to win. Those who opposed Harris felt a woman no matter how gifted should not be allowed to lead men.  With the possible exception of those Nigerians who have American citizenship and who chose to vote from overseas, most people simply talked. And Nigerians like to talk. And they have not stopped talking since the election was won and lost. No one should be surprised if before Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, some of his fans in Nigeria begin to organize owambe parties and buy aso ebi.

Whatever anyone says, Kamala Harris lost the election not because she was not good enough for the job, but because she joined the race rather late, only after President Biden, her boss, was pressured to step down in July.  She deserves commendation for her determination, verve, and the energy with which she sold her narrative which re-energized the Democratic Party. Age, mental acuity and physical health are big issues in American elections. Biden, 81, looked frail and more fragile than Trump, 78. By the time Democrats brought a much younger Harris into the mix, she had a shorter time of preparation.  She galvanized tremendous financial support, but she could have done better if she had been in the race much earlier. Biden has been blamed by the Democrats for being the main cause of her failure. Perhaps, he should have withdrawn from the race earlier. With all the support she had, Trump had a bigger war chest over time. American-style Presidential politics is an expensive deal, requiring a lot of money. Trump had his own resources. He got remarkable support from the likes of Elon Musk. 

Be it in the US or Nigeria, money is the engine oil of politics. Those who are hoping that they could beat President Tinubu and the APC at the polls in 2027 had better begun now to stock-pile the funds, otherwise they might as well struggle in vain. There are other ways in which the American election reminds us of Nigeria. As soon as Trump was declared winner, his supporters, friends and party members trooped to his golf resort in Mar- a -Lago hanging around, trying to get Trump to notice them. He has made it clear that he would reward those who stood by him in the last three years and the few appointments that he has made so far clearly reflect that. Rogue and desperate guests have taken up hotel rooms and apartments in Palm Beach for the next three months, struggling to get themselves invited to the Golf Club.

Trump’s family members are also likely to feature prominently in the new administration as they did in his first term: his children and in-laws and of course his wife. I am thoroughly amused that some Nigerians are pushing the narrative that Trump has family connections with Nigeria. One of his daughters is said to be married to a Lebanese-Nigerian, from a prominent family and that Nigeria needs not worry about all those things Trump says. He has to be nice to his in-laws. It is only for President Tinubu to explore that advantage. How naïve! As in Nigeria all the pending court cases that Trump has in court are likely to disappear.  And by the way, Trump is not complaining because he won. He has been congratulated by President Biden, and he has been invited to the White House on Thursday, this week, for lunch. When he lost in 2020, he did not congratulate Biden. He did not attend the inauguration. This is the man who is now back in the saddle as America’s President.   

A Trump Presidency should be seen in the light of risks, opportunities and lessons. One stand-out lesson is how Trump is first and foremost an American. He wants to Make America Great Again. Similarly, those who want to lead Nigeria should seek to Make Nigeria Great Again. (MANGA). Let our leaders begin to talk about MANGA!  

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has delivered sensitive materials for this Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

In a post via its official X handle on Monday, INEC said the materials were transported by the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, and have been received by officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The post read, “Sensitive materials for the Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, 16th November 2024, have arrived in Akure, the state capital, and have been received by officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

 

“The materials were conveyed to Akure by the Nigerian Air Force.”

The leader of the world’s Anglican communion faced growing pressure on Monday to resign after a damning report which concluded the Church of England had covered up a serial abuse case.

Three members of the General Synod, the Church’s national assembly, have started a petition demanding that Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby quit in the wake of the revelations.

It found the Church had repeatedly failed to act over “abhorrent” abuse carried out by John Smyth, a lawyer who organised evangelical summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s.

He is believed to have attacked as many as 130 boys and young men at his home in southern England after grooming them at the camps, which would make Smyth the most prolific known serial abuser associated with the Church.

The findings of the long-awaited independent review into the case found that Welby “could and should” have formally reported the abuse to authorities in 2013, when he claimed to have first learned of it.

Smyth died aged 75 in South Africa in 2018 while under investigation by British police and never faced any criminal charges.

Welby, the Church of England’s highest-ranking cleric, said last week he was “deeply sorry that this abuse happened” and that he “had no idea or suspicion of this abuse before 2013” when he became archbishop.

He told Britain’s Channel 4 News that he had considered resigning but decided not to.

“If I’d known before 2013 or had grounds for suspicion, that would be a resigning matter then and now. But I didn’t,” he told the broadcaster.

However, the petition by three members of the General Synod — which comprises 483 lay members and clergy — urges Welby to step down.

It argues that Welby “held a personal and moral responsibility to pursue this further… which he failed to fulfil”.

“Given his role in allowing abuse to continue, we believe that his continuing as the Archbishop of Canterbury is no longer tenable,” it adds.

By Monday morning, it had garnered more than 1,600 signatures, while a growing number of priests were speaking out against him.

Giles Fraser, the vicar of St Anne’s Church in southwest London, told BBC radio on Monday it was “a terrible situation”.

“I’m afraid he’s really lost the confidence of his clergy,” he said.

“He’s lost the confidence of many of his bishops, and his position is completely untenable.”

A United States man, Anthony Nephew, shot himself, his wife, ex-partner, and two children after the November 5 election that brought President-elect Donald Trump into office.

According to authorities who spoke to the New York Post on Sunday, the 46-year-old Minnesota father had expressed anger over Trump’s election.

The shooter, aged 46, had a “pattern of mental health issues,” Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa said on Friday — one day after authorities found five people dead inside two homes in the city.

Authorities found Anthony Nephew’s ex-partner, Erin Abramson, 47, and their son, Jacob Nephew, 15, dead from apparent gunshot wounds inside their home on Thursday afternoon, police said.

After identifying Anthony Nephew as a suspect, police found his 45-year-old wife, Kathryn Nephew, and their 7-year-old son, Oliver Nephew, dead from gunshot wounds inside their family home nearby.

Before the tragedy, Anthony Nephew had been sharing left-wing and anti-Trump posts on his Facebook account.

“My mental health and the world can no longer peacefully coexist, and a lot of the reason is religion,” Anthony Nephew wrote in July.

“I am terrified of religious zealots inflicting their misguided beliefs on me and my family. I have intrusive thoughts of being burned at the stake as a witch or crucified on a burning cross.

“Having people actually believe that I or my child are Satan, or the anti-Christ, or whatever their favourite boogeyman they are afraid of this week.”

In another post, he accused Republicans of “making it harder for women to leave” abusive relationships.

“Gilead here we come,” he wrote, referencing The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian novel turned Hulu series in which women, stripped of their rights, are forced to reproduce for the ruling class.

Anthony Nephew also shared other political posts, including an image of former President Barack Obama, Trump, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris. The word “hate” was under Trump’s face, while the words “hope,” “heal,” and “grow” corresponded with the Democratic politicians.

“Not that anyone cares, but as an Independent voter, I would really like to see both the political parties in our country pick better candidates,” he wrote in July. “We can do better than a binary choice between fascism and not fascism.”

Anthony Nephew had previously issued a chilling warning about his struggles with mental health, writing in an op-ed for the Duluth News Tribune in 2021, “For millions of Americans, a breakdown leads to suicide — or homicide before suicide.”

“Mental health in this country is stigmatised, ignored, or treated as a burden for the individual to bear alone, with little help and even less understanding,” he wrote.

“Americans deny they have mental health struggles — because they have to, because they’re told to, or because they don’t realise their mind is broken.”

Police in Duluth, a city of nearly 90,000 residents about 135 miles north of Minneapolis, have not yet determined a motive for the shootings.

Police said there is no ongoing threat to the community.

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has cautioned members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to move away from personal ambition and focus on the party amid the current leadership crisis.

Addressing a gathering of PDP members in Abuja, Saraki said the PDP has come a long way and should not be sacrificed for individual aspirations.

Saraki’s caution comes amid the bickering within the former ruling party, which dates back to the build-up of the 2023 presidential election.

Chieftains like Nyesom Wike, Governor Seyi Makinde, and some other former governors had worked against PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023.

Since the last presidential election, the PDP has continued to witness a leadership crisis.

However, Saraki said: “The party was built on ideas, philosophies, and policies. Let us move away from building ideas on personal ambition. We cannot have an ambition if we don’t have a party. We cannot have a party if we don’t have ideas. This is where it starts.

“Let us stop talking about who is running for councillor, governor, or president in 2027. Let us focus on what the PDP represents. What are the issues and policies that we must address? This is what Nigerians want to know.

“The message we send to Nigerians is that this is a serious party. We are leaders. Let PDP lead in that way.”

Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, has explained why the Value Added Tax, VAT, distribution proposal before the National Assembly is generating so much controversy.

Oyedele stated that the current VAT system is fractured, with the major issues centred on disputes over VAT administration between some states and the Federal Government, among others.

He gave the explanation on Monday via a post on his X handle, titled, “10 most frequently asked questions about the Tax Reform Bills”.

DAILY POST reported that President Bola Tinubu had on September 3 transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration.

The reforms stemmed from the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms headed by Taiwo Oyedele, for the review of existing tax laws.

At the heart of the debate is the proposed shift to a derivation-based model for Value Added Tax distribution.

The Bills had generated mixed reactions across the country.

Giving further explanations on the gains of the proposed tax bills, Oyedele said his committee’s analysis showed that a central collection system is more efficient and benefits all states in the country.

He also stated that the reform seeks the discontinuation of all consumption taxes other than VAT.

Oyedele said: “Why is the VAT proposal generating so much controversy? Are we trying to fix what is not broken?

“The current VAT system is fractured. The major issues include:

“(i) disputes over VAT administration between some states and the federal government resulting in some landmark judgements and pending court cases. This is compounded by the fact that VAT is not stated in the 1999 Constitution thereby creating a lacuna. Our analysis shows that a central collection system is more efficient and benefits all. Once the contentious issues have been resolved, then VAT can be properly included in the constitution. The current sharing formula of FG 15%, States 50% and LGs 35% is proposed to become FG 10%, States 55% and LGs 35%.

“(ii) imposition of parallel consumption taxes in some states along with VAT which increases the tax burden on the people and contributes to multiple taxation. The reform seeks the discontinuation of all consumption taxes other than VAT.

“(iii) basis of distribution – the current formula for sharing VAT among states is based on 20% derivation, 50% equality and 30% population. The tax reform proposes a different model of derivation which will attribute VAT to the place of supply and consumption rather than the current model which attributes VAT to the state where it is remitted thereby favouring states with companies headquarters. Further, derivation under the new model will account for 60% of VAT distribution for better equity and to discourage any state from seeking to administer VAT as a state tax, which will not only result in much lower revenue for all tiers of government but will impose a higher burden on businesses.

“The proposed derivation model is contained under S.22(12) of the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill which states that “For the purpose of attribution, any return under this section shall provide details of derivation of taxable supplies by location.

“The controversy has arisen from the perception that the proposed formula would lead to lower revenue for some states. However, the 5% to be ceded by the FG can be set aside for equalisation transfers to cater for any shortfall to a state under the new model. This ensures that no state is worse off in the short term while significantly enhancing economic activities and revenue for all states in the medium to long term.”

Some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have suffered a disruption in power supply as suspected vandals have attacked the 330kV Lokoja – Gwagwalada transmission line 1, according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The TCN in a statement on Sunday said the attack which took place in the early hours of November 9, 2024, affected three of its transmission towers.

“Early on Saturday, TCN engineers attempted to re-energize the 330kV Lokoja–Gwagwalada transmission line 1, but the line tripped. After efforts to reclose the line failed, a patrol team of TCN linesmen was dispatched to physically trace the line for faults. Upon inspection, they discovered that transmission towers T306, T307, and T308 along line 1 had been vandalized, disrupting bulk power transmission along the route.

“Further examination revealed that the vandals had stolen two spans of aluminium conductor from line one. The Lokoja–Gwagwalada line is a double-circuit transmission line, and while TCN is still supplying bulk power through line two, efforts are underway to source replacement aluminium conductors for the two spans stolen from line one”.

TCN noted that “the rising trend of vandalism targeting transmission lines and towers has become a significant challenge, severely impacting the country’s power infrastructure and hindering the expansion and stability of the national grid. This recent incident adds to an alarming pattern of attacks on the transmission network nationwide.

“In the Gwagwalada area alone, recent acts of vandalism include the attack on the Gwagwalada–Kukuwaba–Apo transmission line on 10th December 2023, the Gwagwalada–Katampe line on February 26, 2024, and several others on that axis. Such acts of vandalism continue to disrupt the stability and growth of Nigeria’s national grid.

“We once again appeal to members of the public, especially residents of communities hosting transmission lines and towers, to collaborate with TCN and security operatives in combating this menace. Vandalism of power installations is a disservice to us all and undermines efforts to strengthen the nation’s transmission system”.

TCN did not, however, state which part of Abuja was affected by the supply disruption.

The development comes following incessant grid collapses (11 so far in 2024) that threw millions of homes into darkness across the country.

The total debts of the 36 states in Nigeria rose to N11.47tn as of June 30, 2024, despite allocations by the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), and their respective internally generated revenues (IGR).

An analysis of data from the public debt reports released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) said the rise was 14.57 per cent higher than the N10.01tn recorded in December 2023.

External debt for the states and the Federal Capital Territory also climbed from $4.61bn to $4.89bn within the period under review.

In naira terms, the debts increased by 73.46 per cent, from N4.15tn to N7.2tn, following the devaluation of the naira from N899.39/$1 in December 2023 to N1,470.19/$1 by June 2024.

However, domestic debt for states and the FCT declined from N5.86tn to N4.27tn.

In total, states and the FCT accounted for Nigeria’s public debt of N134.3tn in June 2024, a decrease from their 10.29 per cent share in December 2023, even as their nominal debt levels increased.

States Debts Surged By 38% To ₦10.01tn In One Year

Channels Television had earlier reported that the sub-national governments continued to grapple with a persistent reliance on borrowing to finance their budgets in 2023, as the total debt stock of the 36 states surged by 38.1%, from N7.25tn in 2022 to N10.01tn.

According to BudgIT’s 2024 State of States report released on Tuesday, the debt growth was partly driven by a N606.12bn increase in domestic debt, resulting in an average year-on-year growth rate of 11.4%. By 31st December 2023.

The total domestic debt stood at N5.86tn.

The situation was further complicated by rising foreign debt, which increased by 4.1%, from $4.43bn in 2022 to $4.61bn in 2023.

According to the report, the liberalisation of the exchange rate exacerbated the financial strain on states, significantly raising their foreign loan repayment obligations in naira terms.

Lagos State remained the most indebted in foreign currency, accounting for 26.9% of the total foreign debt, equivalent to $1.24bn.

32 States Relied On FAAC Allocations For 55% Revenue In 2023— Report

The DMO’s report comes after BudgIT’s report said that the 32 states of the federation relied on FAAC  for at least 55 per cent of their total revenue in 2023.

According to the 2024 report released last week, the development paints the over-reliance of state governments on federally distributable revenue and accentuates the vulnerability of the state governments to crude oil-induced shocks and other external shocks.

The report further said that 14 states relied on FAAC receipts for at least 70 per cent of their total revenue. Furthermore, transfers to states from the federation account comprised at least 62 per cent of the recurrent revenue of 34 states, except Lagos and Ogun, while 21 states relied on federal transfers for at least 80 per cent of their recurrent revenue.

In the 2023 fiscal year, the combined revenue of all 36 states in Nigeria increased significantly by 31.2 per cent from N6.6tn in 2022 to N8.66tn.

This growth rate exceeded the previous year’s increase of 28.95 per cent, indicating a notable improvement in fiscal performance.

Of the total revenue generated in 2023, Lagos State contributed N1.24tn, representing 14.32 per cent of the cumulative revenue of the 36 States.

Gross FAAC, which grew by 33.19 per cent from N4.05tn in 2022 to N5.4tn in 2023, contributed to 65 per cent of the year-on-year growth of the combined revenue of the 36 states.

“32 states relied on FAAC receipts for at least 55 per cent of their total revenue, while 14 states relied on FAAC receipts for at least 70 per cent of their total revenue.

“Furthermore, transfers to states from the federation account comprised at least 62 per cent of the recurrent revenue of 34 states, except Lagos and Ogun, while 21 states relied on federal transfers for at least 80 per cent of their recurrent revenue.

“The picture painted above buttresses the over-reliance of the state governments on federally distributable revenue and accentuates their vulnerability to crude oil-induced shocks and other external shocks.”

The report provides a detailed analysis of states’ fiscal sustainability, examining how well they balance internally generated revenue against federal allocations.

IGRs Shoot Up

On Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by the states, the report said the domestic resource mobilisation capacity of the state governments seemed to improve in 2023, as the 36 states’ IGR grew by 20.33 per cent to N2.19tn from the N1.82tn garnered in 2022.

However, it was mixed fortunes for the states as the growth was unequal across the board: six states grew their IGR by more than 50 per cent, with Zamfara recording the highest growth of 240.22 per cent, while seven states recorded negative IGR growth, with Jigawa recording the worst decline among the 36 states.

Lagos State was the largest contributor to total state revenue, accounting for N1.24tn, or 14.32 per cent of the cumulative revenue.

The report also highlighted that only Lagos and Rivers states were able to generate enough IGR to cover their operating expenses, with IGR-to-operating-cost ratios of 118.39 per cent and 121.26 per cent, respectively.

On the other hand, states such as Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Taraba required over five times their IGR to meet operating expenses, relying heavily on federal transfers and external aid.

BudgIT advised “The fiscal viability and long-term sustainability of the states are largely dependent on their capacity to mobilise revenues internally—leveraging their natural resource endowments, technology, public-private partnerships, human capital, and consequence management adequate enough to finance critical infrastructure, invest in human capital development and social protection, pay the new minimum wage and its consequential adjustments, and amend the broken social contract.

“More specifically, the states would need to digitise revenue collection, eliminate cash-based transactions, deploy tax intelligence to enumerate tax liabilities of entities— particularly high net-worth individuals—and enforce compliance, harmonise its different taxes, levies and fees, fully operationalise its treasury single account, and improve the ease of doing business.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja not to grant the reliefs sought by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his fundamental right enforcement suit.

The EFCC, in its counter affidavit in opposition to Sanwo-Olu’s originating summons, told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the governor’s action in the instant suit is a mere conjecture.

Recall that Sanwo-Olu, through his counsel, Darlington Ozurumba, had sued the anti-graft agency as sole defendant over alleged threat to arrest, detain and prosecute him after his tenure as governor.

In the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/773/2024, dated June 6 and filed on the same date, the governor raised seven questions and sought 11 reliefs.

Sanwo-Olu sought a declaration that under and by virtue of the provisions of Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, “the plaintiff, as a citizen of Nigeria, is entitled to right to private and family life as a minimum guarantee encapsulated under the Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria, 1999 before, during and after occupation of public office created by the Constitution.”

He also wants the court to declare that upon community reading of the provisions of Sections 35(1) & (4) and 41(1) of the constitution, the threat of his investigation, arrest and detention by the EFCC during his tenure of office as governor is illegal.

The governor prayed the court to declare that the incessant harassment, threat of arrest and detention, against him upon the EFCC’s instigation by his political adversaries based on false and politically motivated allegation of corruption is a misuse of executive powers and abuse of public office.

He, therefore, sought an order restraining the EFCC from harassing, intimidating, arresting, detaining, interrogating or prosecuting him in connection with his tenure as the governor of Lagos State, among others.

However, the anti-corruption agency, in its counter affidavit dated Oct. 30 but filed Oct. 31 by its lawyer, Hadiza Afegbua, said contrary to the governor’s claims, the EFCC neither threatened, invited or took any step at all to encroach on his right to freedom of movement nor violated his right to private and family life and personal liberty.

The EFCC’s objection was sighted on Monday in Abuja.

In the application, Ufuoma Ezire, a Superintendent and a Litigation Secretary in the Legal and Prosecution Department of EFCC, who deposed to the counter affidavit, averred that he was conversant with the facts of the case.

According to him, that I have the authority, consent and permission of the defendant to depose to this counter affidavit.

“That I have read and understood the plaintiff’s affidavit in support of the originating summons and I hereby state that the depositions in Paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7 and even 8 are not true and are calculated attempt to mislead the honourable court.

“That the depositions in paragraph 4 sub 4(iv), 4(v), 4(vi), 4(vii), 4(viii), 4(ix), 4(x), 4(xi), 4(xii), 4(xiv), 4(xvi), 4(vii), 4(xviii), 4(xix), 4(xx), 4(xxi) ,4(xxii), 4(xxiv) and 4(xxv) of the plaintiff’s affidavit are unfounded, untrue and unknown to the defendant and are hereby denied,” Ezire said.

The official said the commission was not investigating the governor and had never invited him or threatened to arrest any member of his staff, domestic or otherwise.

“That I know as a fact that the defendant invites members of the public for interview, interrogation or any engagement vide a written invitation, phone calls or text messages by any of its officers who shall introduce himself or herself by name, rank, designation, and Section to enable the invitee trace the officer easily.

“That no officer of the defendant could have invited the plaintiff or his aides without furnishing them with such detailed particulars of himself.

“That contrary to the depositions in paragraphs 5 of the plaintiff affidavit, the defendant did not intimidate, harass or threatened the plaintiff or subjected him to any trauma,” he said.

He said the agency was unaware of any threat to arrest Sanwo-Olu’s “aides, accusation of maladministration or diversion of Lagos State’s funds nor is it aware of any likelihood of a breach of the applicant’s right to liberty or right to own movable and immovable properties in this case.

“That the action of the plaintiff in this case is mere conjecture and speculations as there is no petition or any intel gathered before the defendant to warrant the men and officers of same to invite, threaten to arrest the plaintiff at the moment.

“That the entirety of the dispositions contained in the plaintiffs’ affidavit are not true, as the application is misconceived and brought in bad faith to mislead this honourable court.

“That the defendant is not in a position to deny or confirm the depositions in paragraphs 4 and 4(iii) as the defendant is not a party to the conversation between deponent and the plaintiff.

“That it will be in the interest of justice to refuse the reliefs sought by the plaintiff,” Ezire added.