Former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has called on Nigerians to demand greater transparency and accountability from their state governors and local government chairmen, stressing that governance must not begin and end at the federal level.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos on the state of the nation and the economy, Ikuforiji expressed concern over the weakening of state legislatures, which he described as mere “appendages of the executive,” lacking the courage to perform their constitutional oversight duties.
He recalled that during his time as Speaker under then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Lagos Assembly maintained a strong oversight role, regularly summoning the governor to provide updates on the state’s finances and policies.
“The states and local governments together receive more than half of Nigeria’s total revenue allocation. We must begin to hold them accountable.
“Unfortunately, many state houses of assembly have lost their independence and now operate like extensions of the executive arm,” Ikuforiji stated.
The former Speaker, who is also an economist, commended President Tinubu’s management of the economy, describing his leadership as steady and resilient despite global and domestic economic challenges. He said the President “deserves distinction” for his approach to stabilizing the nation’s finances and driving reform.
Ikuforiji, however, blamed the worsening poverty levels reported by the World Bank on inefficiency and mismanagement at the sub-national level, noting that many governors and local council leaders have failed to implement meaningful poverty-alleviation measures.
“How can poverty not persist when governors are not performing their duties effectively and council chairmen are neglecting the people they were elected to serve?” he queried.
Reflecting on his tenure in the Lagos Assembly, Ikuforiji said the legislature under his leadership was fearless in holding both Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola accountable, even at the height of their popularity.
“When Fashola was the nation’s poster governor, we still subjected him to legislative scrutiny,” he said. “Whatever he did, the House ensured proper oversight.”
On the 2027 general elections and the emerging opposition coalition, Ikuforiji dismissed the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as “mere noisemakers,” insisting they lack the structure and influence to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
“The APC remains Nigeria’s strongest and most organized political movement. Others are just making noise,” he added.