President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on media executives in Nigeria to scrutinise the activities of state and local governments in the same manner they hold the federal government accountable.

The president made the remarks while hosting media leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting brought together members of the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, along with other media executives. The gathering formed part of ongoing engagement between the presidency and media stakeholders.

During the meeting, the president discussed issues relating to governance, federalism and public accountability across the country.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said media organisations should extend their scrutiny beyond the federal government to include state governments and local government administrations.

“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money,” the president said.

He added that journalists should monitor how funds allocated to sub-national governments are utilised.

“But how they use it is in your hand, so don’t bombard me alone. Look at local government too, and equally, the sub-national,” he stated.

The president also said that financial conditions in Nigerian states have improved in recent years.

“Today, there is no state that is borrowing to pay salaries of employees,” he said while discussing the fiscal situation of state governments.

According to the president, increased allocations to states and local governments followed higher crude oil production and improved revenue collection by the national revenue authorities.

The president noted that a ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 2024 granted financial autonomy to local governments. The decision allowed direct payment of allocations to local councils across the country.

The administration said the development has strengthened fiscal operations at sub-national levels of government.