The African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Dan'iya, has called on Governor Ahmed Aliyu to disclose the total revenue received by his administration and how it was spent between May 2023 and September 2026. This demand was made in response to Aliyu's recent declaration that the All Progressives Congress would rely on projects executed by his administration to campaign for re-election in 2027. Dan'iya insisted that the government should account for public funds before asking opposition parties to present their records of achievements.
Dan'iya made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi. He welcomed the principle of issue-based campaigns but insisted that the governor's record could only be properly assessed if the government disclosed its revenue and expenditure. According to Dan'iya, the governor should tell the people of Sokoto how much his government has received from the Federation Account from May 2023 to September 2026, how much it has generated internally, and how much has been spent.
The ADC candidate also called on the governor to provide a comprehensive breakdown of funds allocated to the state's 23 local government areas within the period. This should include their monthly Federation Account allocations, internally generated revenue, statutory deductions, and expenditure on public services. Dan'iya insisted that making the financial records available alongside project costs, contractors, implementation timelines, and evidence of completion would enable residents to assess the performance of the state and local governments based on verifiable information.
Dan'iya questioned whether the administration's spending had translated into tangible improvements in the lives of residents, citing concerns over insecurity, education, healthcare, water supply, workers' welfare, unemployment, and public infrastructure. He urged the government to subject projects whose costs, implementation status, or benefits had been questioned to independent scrutiny. Dan'iya insisted that allegations of inflated costs, incomplete projects, or expenditure without corresponding results should be investigated through documentary evidence and appropriate accountability institutions.
The ADC candidate maintained that assessing the government's performance should go beyond announcing projects, awarding contracts, or releasing aggregate financial figures. He called for a transparent comparison of revenue received, expenditure incurred, projects completed, ongoing projects, and services delivered to communities. According to Dan'iya, the same standard of accountability should apply to the state government and all 23 local government councils, as public resources belonged to the people and must be accounted for in ways that allow independent verification.
Dan'iya consequently challenged Aliyu to publish a consolidated revenue-and-expenditure statement covering May 2023 to September 2026. This statement should detail Federation Account receipts, internally generated revenue, other inflows, deductions, recurrent expenditure, capital spending, and allocations to local governments. He said the debate ahead of the 2027 elections should be anchored on accessible records that citizens, journalists, auditors, and relevant public institutions could examine.
The ADC candidate emphasized that the people of Sokoto are entitled to ask simple questions about the state's finances and the impact of government spending on their lives. He urged the governor to provide the necessary information, saying, "Before telling the opposition to present its record, tell the people how much you received and show them the evidence of what you delivered."
Key points
- ADC governorship candidate Manir Dan'iya challenges Sokoto Governor Ahmed Aliyu to disclose state's revenue and expenditure.
- Dan'iya demands comprehensive breakdown of funds allocated to Sokoto's 23 local government areas.
- The ADC candidate calls for transparent comparison of revenue received, expenditure incurred, and projects completed.
