By Elias Abayomi Adagunduro
Some state governments have started announcing their budget proposals for the year, quoting figures running into billions before state lawmakers and gentlemen of the press. In terms of making impact, the sub nationals are closer to the grassroot. However, civil society organisations, media and the masses, overlook them, shift attention to Federal government who is only overarching policies.
On the Morning Show on Arise News on Monday January 6, the Chief Executive Officer CFG Advisory Tilewa Adebajo said when he was senior technical adviser to the Minister of Industry and Trade and Investment, one of the things he was doing was investment facilitation.
Tilewa Adebajo (CEO CFG Advisory)
“We traveled a lot to bring investors to Nigeria, and one of the things we learn very quickly is that the Federal government does not have any land. Any Investment you are doing in Nigeria has to go to a particular state. The Federal government is just overarching for polices, the factors of production of any productive economy happens in the state.
“So you have to locate the state to have land and things like that. The governors have to tie into the policies of the Federal government to understand what they need to do.
“There are certain things that are basic that the states government should be held responsible for. Education, healthcare , provision of infrastructure the state government should be under more scrutinybbecause they make the most impact especially at the local government level.
“What is the coordination of the state government in each of the key ministries ? The Federal Ministry of health should be able to coordinate better with the state ministry of health to be able to deliver healthcare and Federal government should be able to fund its portion and the state governments should fund its portion”.