March 31, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu has once again restated the need to accord importance to every Nigerian in the governance and development of the country, while underscoring the bureaucratic inaction caused by official policies, like the Treasury Single Account, TSA.
Speaking on Sunday during a reception for a delegation of citizens of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, who paid him Sallah homage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Tinubu said, “Nobody is bigger than Nigeria, including myself. It is only Almighty Allah that gives power. I am just a custodian of your trust.
“If I give it to you, you must use it in the righteous way. You must be humane. You must follow my teachings.’’ The delegation was led by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
THEWILL recalls that President Tinubu made a similar statement during his inauguration almost two years ago. During his maiden address on May 29, 2023, he had said, “My victory does not render me any more Nigerian than my opponents. Nor does it render them any less patriotic.
“They shall forever be my fellow compatriots. And I will treat them as such. They represent important constituencies and concerns that wisdom dare not ignore.”
On Sunday, the President used the solemn occasion to reaffirm his commitment to national unity and collective progress and underscored the importance of power as trust held and exercised in service on behalf of the people.
Thinking deeply about the Ramadan fasting that has just ended and the continuing Lenten season, Tinubu reiterated the values of tolerance, mutual trust, understanding and shared responsibility in building a prosperous nation.
“We started with prayers. We end with prayers. We committed ourselves with discipline and faithful supplication, learning the teachings of Allah. Such discipline instils understanding, sharing and partaking in family values that bring us together as one family,” he said.
On the delays caused by policies like the Treasury Singe Account, TSA, to speedy discharge of valuable service delivery to the people, President Tinubu explained his administration’s decision to remove the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from the TSA. He said the choice was aimed at accelerating development and enhancing residents’ participation in governance.
He noted that the bureaucracy associated with the TSA had hindered infrastructure growth in the capital city, necessitating a review for better impact and progress.
According to him, freeing the FCT from TSA restrictions has facilitated infrastructure development, improved healthcare services, and strengthened security measures.
“I remember the day the FCT minister came to me and said, ‘Please take us out of the problem of the TSA so I can do more work and achieve more.’ I asked him to show me his plans, and he did. From there, everything changed rapidly.
“I started seeing the opening up of rural areas, the resuscitation of abandoned projects, and the completion of the Vice President’s official residence, which had been left unattended for years. The FCT also rehabilitated healthcare centres, upgraded school facilities, and provided furniture,” Tinubu said.
The President commended Wike for demonstrating the need to free the FCT from bureaucratic bottlenecks and for restructuring the territory’s public service to ensure civil servants could aspire to higher positions.
“We wouldn’t have been able to celebrate these achievements without the progressive ideas brought to the FCT. We are now seeing innovation and real development,” he added.
Tinubu urged FCT citizens and Nigerians at large to prioritize competence over ethnic and religious sentiments in leadership selection.
“Today, we live in peace, security is improving, and hunger is reducing. Food prices are stabilizing, businesses are thriving, and our national unity is getting stronger. We are not looking for magic; we are looking for results and leadership that cares,” he said.
THEWILL recalls that the TSA, introduced and piloted in 2012 using a unified structure of accounting for 217 government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, for accountability and transparency in public fund management, kicked off in 2016, with the singular aim to curb official corruption.
But over time, public criticisms have been mounting over the policy. There have been assumptions that it would change nothing unless corrupt officials were treated as criminals, prosecuted and jailed, while internal mechanisms to block leakages and wastage in public offices were installed. A shining example in support of the critics is the pending investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of a former, suspended Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris for allegedly stealing N109 billion.
The case which has dragged on since May 2022, was adjourned by Justice Yusuf Haliu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to May 7, 2025 for continuation of trial-within-trial.
The President further praised Wike for his commitment to national unity and progress, saying, “Nyesom Wike has demonstrated the strength of our diversity. He has shown that we are all members of one family, living under one roof, in different rooms, but working towards a common goal.”
“Surprisingly, Nyesom Wike is not from the North. He’s from the southern part of Nigeria. And his ability to work in the centre of the northern part of Nigeria is bearing fruit. That is a very good reflection of our diversity that we must use for our prosperity.”
The FCT minister, in his remarks, thanked the President for hosting the delegation and described the visit as historic, being the first time FCT residents were personally extending their Sallah greetings to the President.
“We are genuinely delighted to be here. Despite our varied backgrounds, we are united in our unwavering support for your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Wike said, pledging his continued loyalty and commitment to the development of the capital city.
To Nigerians, Tinubu urged them to accord importance to matters of national unity over personal ambitions and embrace peace, harmony, and inclusivity regardless of ethnic or religious differences.
“We must continue to abide by the lessons of Ramadan. We must continue to share and remember the less privileged, the widows, and the have-nots, believing that we can share both in joy and in times of need. And we can believe that Nigeria is greater than any one of us – including myself as President,” he said.
The event was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris, members of the National Assembly, judiciary, religious and traditional leaders, security chiefs, and representatives of women and youth groups.
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