By: Manoah Kikekon
Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, on Arise News on Thursday, claimed that individuals historically paid multi-billion-naira sums to secure ministerial appointments before attempting to recoup those funds while in office.
Defending President Bola Tinubu’s hands-on management of state expenditures and government revenues, Hassan explained that close presidential oversight helps prevent the diversion of public funds.
“The way Asiwaju is hands-on on the expenditure of our revenue is fantastic and I love it. A lot of ministers pay billions and billions, you know, to get themselves appointed. The first thing they think of is how to recoup that money,” Hassan stated.
Clarifying his statement, Hassan stressed that he was referring to systemic practices that predated the current government rather than ministers serving in the present administration.
“But this is the truth I’m telling you about our country. Not just APC. Before APC, the biggest fraudulent people you arrest after every government are ministers,” he added.
Responding to inquiries regarding budget deficits and funding challenges, Hassan argued that President Tinubu’s direct intervention in capital expenditure decisions has yielded better financial discipline across federal organs.
“Whatever it is a budget is supposed to do in this country in the last three and a half years, Asiwaju has done it by himself. Why do we need ministers? Why do we need budget to be given to ministers?” he asked.
Hassan also used the platform to outline several operational milestones recorded by the current administration, asserting that these successes position the ruling party strongly ahead of the 2027 presidential polls.
Pension Reforms: The release of backlogged funds to settle outstanding terminal benefits for retired federal public servants, alongside the rollout of an exit benefit mechanism to eliminate delays in pension disbinsements.
Infrastructure & Technology: Federal investments aimed at boosting local electricity metering, transitioning toward electric vehicles, deploying surveillance drones for security, and ramping up domestic ammunition manufacturing.