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Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele says Nigerian citizens need better education on public finance to hold the government to account, warning that loud complaints on social media are ineffective without the right questions.
Oyedele said his role includes educating Nigerians about government finances, arguing that an informed population is essential for accountability.
“One of the things I plan to do in my current role is to educate the Nigerian people more because we actually need an educated population to hold government to account,” he said while giving a speech at Chatham House in London on Wednesday.
“Many people don’t realise that it’s not about how loud you scream on social media. It’s a waste of time.”
He said no amount of noise on social media would change anything in government if citizens were not asking the right questions.
“There’s no amount of noise on social media that will change anything in government if you are not asking the right questions,” he said.
Oyedele said it was in the government’s enlightened self-interest for citizens to be properly educated, even if it was not convenient for those in public service.
He also challenged the widespread belief that too much revenue is concentrated at the centre, saying data showed the federal government receives only about 15 percent of national resources, with 85 percent going to subnational governments.
He said the national government collects no personal income tax, while states receive 90 percent of Value Added Tax proceeds and retain stamp duty revenue.
“The center is the most deprived of resources, yet it has the most responsibilities,” he said.
