A spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Alwan Hassan, has alleged that some ministers pay billions of naira to secure appointments and subsequently focus on recovering the money rather than serving the public.
Hassan made the allegation during an interview on ARISE News, where he criticised the management of public funds and questioned the government’s ability to finance approved budgets.
He described ministers as some of the most corrupt officials in government, alleging that their pursuit of appointments and subsequent efforts to recoup their investments undermine public service.
“Every time a government goes out, the most criminal elements in government are ministers,” he said.
Hassan further alleged that some ministers invest huge sums to secure positions and then seek to recover the money after assuming office.
“Ministers pay billions and billions to get appointed, and then they think of recouping that money,” he stated.
The APC chieftain also questioned the government’s inability to adequately fund its budget, asking how approved projects and programmes could be implemented without sufficient financial resources.
“You have not been able to successfully fund your budget,” Hassan said, questioning where the money needed to execute the budget would come from.
He argued that the inability to provide adequate funding for approved budgets raised concerns about the management and allocation of government revenue.
Hassan also questioned the necessity of appointing ministers if they could not ensure effective management of public expenditure and the implementation of government budgets.
“Why do we need ministers? Why do we need budget to be given to ministers?” he asked.
He maintained that concerns about corruption among ministers were not restricted to a particular political party or administration, claiming that ministers had featured prominently among officials accused of fraud after successive governments left office.
However, Hassan praised President Bola Tinubu’s approach to monitoring government expenditure, describing his involvement in the management of public revenue as commendable.
“The way Asiwaju is hands-on on the expenditure of our revenue is fantastic and I love it,” he said.
He argued that approving budgets without providing the necessary funds for their implementation undermined the purpose of the budgeting process.
In a separate development, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged residents to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, warning them against repeating what he described as a political mistake in the 2023 general elections.
Wike made the appeal on Thursday during an interactive session organised by the Rainbow Coalition of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
At the event, the minister also endorsed former senator Philip Aduda and John Gbadaya under the coalition’s political arrangement.
He urged residents to judge political leaders by their contributions to development rather than their party affiliations, arguing that ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT justified continued support for the Tinubu administration.
“The mistake we made in 2023, would we make that mistake again? If it was an error, would we make that error again?” Wike asked, prompting a negative response from the audience.
The minister explained that the Rainbow Coalition was formed to bring politicians across party lines together to promote the interests of FCT residents.
“It doesn’t matter the party. After all, party is a vehicle that conveys you to where you are going. When you get there, you come down from the vehicle and you now work for the interest of the people,” he said.
Wike also challenged residents to assess the performance of their elected representatives, particularly their accessibility and commitment to addressing the needs of their communities.
He questioned the impact of the senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, asking whether residents had felt her presence and whether she had visited traditional rulers, women and youths to understand their concerns.
“Today, the people of FCT, do you feel the impact? Do you feel the presence of the senator representing FCT today?” he asked.
Presenting Aduda to the gathering, Wike described the former senator as a politician who understood the needs of FCT residents and urged them to support him.
“So, I am here today to present to you your own son. The man who understands when you are sleeping. The man who knows when you are crying. The man who knows when Gombe people are in need. Senator Philip Aduda,” he said.
Wike attributed the infrastructure projects being executed in the territory to Tinubu’s support, arguing that the President’s approval had enabled the FCT administration to address longstanding infrastructure deficits.
“All these things are being done because somebody is responsible. If the person does not agree with the minister doing anything, nothing will happen,” he said.
The minister also announced that the Gombe-Kubwa road project would be ready for use by December, assuring residents that the administration would continue to address infrastructure challenges across the territory.
“Let me authoritatively tell you today, by the grace of God, this December, you will do Christmas on this road, Gombe to Kubwa,” he said.
Wike further disclosed that political negotiations had resulted in Julius Adamu, the PDP chairmanship candidate in the last Area Council elections, stepping down in favour of Joshua, the chairman of Bwari Area Council.
He described the decision as an example of putting collective interests above personal ambition, adding that the arrangement was intended to strengthen political unity and consolidate support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
