Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has publicly alleged that the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu is selectively distributing palliative funds based on political affiliation, claiming opposition-led states like his are being deliberately excluded.
The governor said Zamfara has not received any federal palliative funds since the removal of fuel subsidy.
He blamed the situation on his membership of the opposition party and not the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in a video that has since gone viral, Lawal claimed that some states controlled by the APC had received huge financial support from the Federal Government. He alleged that these funds were meant to help citizens cope with rising living costs caused by recent economic reforms.
“I know of states that have received over 500 billion Naira from the Federal Government as palliative, but I have never received anything,” the governor said. “I think the reason I don’t get it is because I’m not in APC.”
Lawal said Zamfara State has been left to struggle on its own despite facing serious economic and security challenges. He noted that his government has had to rely solely on state resources to support residents through food distribution and other welfare programs.
According to him, the palliatives introduced by the Federal Government were supposed to be shared fairly among all states, regardless of party affiliation.
He stressed that citizens should not suffer because of political rivalry between different levels of government.
The governor’s remarks appear to highlight growing frustrations among some opposition governors regarding perceived favoritism in federal resource allocation. Similar complaints have surfaced from other PDP-led states, including allegations of withheld local government funds.
Palliatives encompassing cash transfers, food items, and other relief measures were rolled out nationwide following the 2023 removal of fuel subsidies, which triggered inflation and increased living costs.
The Federal Government provided initial support packages to states, though distribution and additional disbursements have varied.
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