The federal government asserts that a major increase in monthly funding to state governments, a result of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, has rescued most states from financial failure. Officials claim this action prevented a collapse in public services.

Before Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, approximately 27 of Nigeria’s 36 states were unable to regularly pay worker salaries, according to Information Minister Mohammed Idris. He stated the situation threatened basic governance in those regions.

The minister, speaking at a university ceremony in Minna, said reforms including the controversial end of the fuel subsidy have dramatically raised state incomes. “Now, states are getting three times what they used to get,” Idris explained.

With the increased funds, states that previously struggled to meet payrolls can now pay salaries, begin infrastructure projects, and fund local programs, the government reports. This is framed as a direct outcome of new presidential policies.

The announcement is part of the administration’s effort to highlight gains from its tough economic decisions, which have also caused widespread inflation and public hardship. Critics argue the full impact on citizens remains severe.

Minister Idris positioned these changes as necessary corrections for past errors, vital for long-term nation-building. The government maintains that continued reform is essential, even as many Nigerians grapple with the immediate rising cost of living.