According to Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, states and citizens are receiving significantly more financial support under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than they did under previous governments.
Omokri made the claim during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, September 13, 2026, while defending the Tinubu administration against criticisms over the economic situation in the country.
He used Osun State to illustrate his argument, recalling the financial challenges faced by the state during the tenure of former governor Rauf Aregbesola under former President Muhammadu Buhari. According to Omokri, Osun State was receiving about N3.5 billion in federal allocation at the time, while the state’s monthly wage bill was around N4 billion.
He said the gap between the funds available to the state and its salary obligations contributed to difficulties in paying workers, which led to Aregbesola being popularly referred to as “Papa Afusa.” Omokri explained that the expression was linked to the payment of half salaries rather than the name of one of the governor’s children.
“People thought he was called Papa Afusa because he had a daughter called Afusa. No. Afusa is just short for half salary,” Omokri said.
He argued that the financial position of states had changed under the current administration, claiming that Osun now receives about N15 billion in federal allocation every month.
“Right now, as I speak to you, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Osun State receives 15 billion federal allocation every month,” he stated.
Omokri also claimed that allocations to states across the country had increased substantially compared with what they received before Tinubu became president. He said some states were receiving three to five times their previous allocations.
“There is no state in Nigeria that is not getting at least three, some of them at least, five times what they were getting prior to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
The former presidential aide further pointed to the payment of salaries and the expansion of student loans as evidence of financial support under the present government. He said 27 states currently have about 1.2 million civil servants whose salaries are being paid, while the Federal Government has about 1.1 million workers on its payroll.
Omokri also highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, saying more than one million students were receiving student loans. He argued that the programme was helping students who previously faced difficulties financing their tertiary education.
His comments were made in defence of the administration’s record as the government continues to face criticism over the impact of economic reforms and the rising cost of living.
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