Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said governors and local government chairmen should be held accountable whenever kidnappings occur in their states, arguing that responsibility for local security and governance extends beyond the Federal Government.
Speaking on The Morayo Podcast Show, Bwala responded to questions on the Federal Government’s handling of the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, as well as the country’s worsening security situation.
He maintained that every kidnapping occurs within a state and local government area, making state and local authorities directly answerable.
Bwala pointed to the Federal Government’s Save the School Initiative, which he said provided funds to states for perimeter fencing, early warning systems and other school security measures. He challenged Nigerians to demand accountability from their governors over how those funds were utilised.
The presidential aide also alleged that local governments were being denied direct access to funds meant for them. Citing Oyo State as an example, he claimed some local government areas were entitled to hundreds of millions of naira monthly, funds he said could strengthen primary healthcare, education, local vigilante operations and welfare programmes if released directly.
He criticised what he described as a culture of relying solely on the Federal Government, urging citizens to organise town hall meetings and use the media to hold local government officials accountable for public spending.
According to Bwala, Nigeria’s constitutional structure does not give the President authority to compel governors to act, noting that President Bola Tinubu could only encourage state governments rather than dictate to them.
On the Oyo school abduction, where the victims have reportedly spent more than 50 days in captivity, Bwala said the government’s priority was to secure their safe release.
He stressed that any rescue operation must prioritise the lives of the hostages, warning that a forceful approach could endanger those being held.
