Transparency International Nigeria and the Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, Eze Onyekpere, have criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the alleged withholding of N250 billion in dividends from Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG, meant for states.
The head of TI Nigeria, Auwal Rafsanjani and Onyekpere criticised Tinubu’s administration in separate interviews with DAILY POST on Monday.
DAILY POST reports that Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Seyi Makinde, had accused the Tinubu administration of withholding N250 billion in NLNG dividends due to states.
According to Makinde, the Tinubu administration had planned to delay the disbursement until after the 2027 general election.
However, the Presidency, in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, dismissed Makinde’s claim as false.
In response to the Presidency’s position, Makinde, one of the 16 presidential candidates seeking to replace Tinubu in the January 16, 2027, election, said he stood by his claim.
The controversy comes amid a report released by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, last Monday, which indicated that Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty rate rose to a higher level.
‘It’s undemocratic’ — Rafsanjani blasts Tinubu
According to Rafsanjani, it is undemocratic and anti-development for the Federal Government under Tinubu to withhold funds that could help alleviate the economic hardship Nigerians face.
Rafsanjani described the alleged withholding of funds due to states by the Federal Government as undemocratic and detrimental to development.
He said withholding funds meant for developmental projects would hinder progress in states and deprive residents of the benefits of public resources.
“Well, first and foremost, it’s a very sad situation that the government, you know, is having this kind of challenge of its money not being released by the Federal Government.
“There’s no way development can happen when resources that are earmarked to carry out certain developmental projects in the states are not, you know, released simply because of the policy of withholding allocations.
“These allocations are not personal allocations. They are meant for the states to govern effectively and efficiently.
“And if the Federal Government is, because of political differences, depriving states of their entitlements, whatever the reason behind this, it is anti-development and undemocratic.
“Therefore, we urge the Federal Government to stop, you know, withholding state and local government funds meant for these states. This is simply because you are depriving the people of development in the states.
“If you have any issue, because we are operating a federal system, it is not within your powers to use party differences to deprive states of their own resources,” he told DAILY POST.
Rafsanjani, however, called on state and the local governments to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of their allocations, arguing that proper utilisation of the funds would enable citizens to demand their timely release.
He said state governments must demonstrate that public resources were being spent to improve residents’ lives through development projects and poverty reduction.
“And if spending is done transparently for the benefit of the people in the states, and the people see development, they will even be the ones to agitate for the Federal Government to release this money.
“But because this money apparently has not been utilised in a manner that will bring development and lift people out of poverty, unemployment and poor infrastructure at the state level, people don’t even know that there is a link between these resources meant for the states and what the Federal Government is doing.
“So this is why we are encouraging states to be as transparent and responsive as possible, and to spend this money judiciously and transparently for the benefit of the people in their states.
“Ensure, you know, effective utilisation.
“If that is done, I am telling you, people will be the ones agitating and demanding that money meant for their states must be released,” he added.
The CISLAC director further argued that the dispute over the funds had largely become a contest between government officials rather than a struggle involving the citizens who should benefit from the allocations.
He said the lack of transparency in the management of public funds had weakened citizens’ interest in demanding accountability from both tiers of government.
Rafsanjani added: “So now this fight has been reduced to a contest between the beneficiaries, the state government and the Federal Government."
“And that is why the Federal Government has the courage to do what it is doing, which is also not transparent,” he told DAILY POST.
‘Tinubu wants Nigerians to suffer’ — Onyekpere
On his part, Onyekpere backed Makinde’s claim that the Federal Government had yet to release N250 billion in NLNG dividends to states, accusing the Tinubu administration of lacking transparency and credibility.
Onyekpere said he was inclined to believe Makinde because the Federal Government had failed to publish key fiscal documents, including budget implementation reports and actual revenue reports.
He made the remarks while reacting to Makinde’s claim that the Federal Government was withholding N250 billion in NLNG dividends meant for states.
“Who do you want to believe? Because, of course, you know we have a Presidency that is very opaque. They don’t publish any reports.
“When last did you see any budget implementation report? They don’t even publish anything except to give us a general picture of how much we owe.
“So, I am inclined to believe Makinde because he has more credibility than the Federal Government, which simply makes promises, removes the oil subsidy, gets the benefits and then shares them among its cronies. Nothing for the people of Nigeria,” he said.
Onyekpere faulted the Federal Government for failing to make its revenue and expenditure records publicly available, arguing that the lack of transparency had undermined public confidence in its claims.
“Budget implementation reports are not published. Actual revenue reports are not published. Can’t you see what they are quarrelling with the World Bank and the IMF about?
“When the IMF and World Bank say that tax revenue grew by 126 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, they are now saying that there are some funds and revenue that the World Bank did not take into account in its October update.
“But why would they have to hide some funds for the World Bank not to know? Why don’t they publish everything as it comes? The Federal Government lacks credibility. I believe Makinde,” he told DAILY POST.
The analyst further argued that the government’s record on revenue disclosure and budget implementation gave Nigerians reasons to question its position on the alleged unpaid dividends.
“Because of their antecedents, they will not tell us how much has accrued as revenue. They will not implement the budget.
“They don’t publish any budget implementation reports. Nothing at all. So, I still believe they lack credibility.
“Makinde is likely telling the truth,” Onyekpere added in an interview with DAILY POST.
Asked how the alleged withholding of the funds related to the government’s achievements, Onyekpere said the money could have been used to ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
“Of course, it shows that there are resources that should be used to ameliorate the suffering, but they are not using them.
“So, that’s the way I would look at it. It just shows that the government is insensitive and does not care about the plight of the people,” he told DAILY POST.
NLNG keeps mum
When DAILY POST contacted NLNG spokesperson, Anne Palmer for a reaction, she did not respond to the inquiry sent via WhatsApp.
OAGF promises response
The spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, promised to respond to the controversy after consultations on Tuesday.