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NDC has debunked a claim by Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, that Delta State is the strongest financial state in Nigeria.
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The NDC described the statement as a “blatant falsehood” and an “insult to the intelligence” of the people of Delta State.
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The group attributed the state’s financial troubles to gross mismanagement by the government, pointing to reckless spending.
The claim made by Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, that Delta State is the strongest financial state in Nigeria, has been debunked by the New Delta Coalition (NDC).
The group described the statement as a “blatant falsehood” and an “insult to the intelligence” of the people of Delta State, accusing the state government of attempting to conceal its financial shortcomings.
This was contained in a statement signed by Godwin Anaughe, the spokesperson for the New Delta Coalition (NDC), which categorically refuted Chief Tilije’s assertion.
The NDC pointed out that Delta State’s claim is not backed by reality, as several other states in the country perform far better in terms of financial stability.
For example, Lagos State boasts a GDP of ₦41.17 trillion, while other states such as Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Imo have GDPs of ₦7.96 trillion, ₦7.77 trillion, and ₦7.68 trillion, respectively. In contrast, Delta State’s GDP stands at ₦6.19 trillion, significantly lagging behind these states.
The NDC also highlighted the fact that Delta State, despite being the highest recipient of FAAC allocations in Nigeria, should have a substantially higher GDP.
According to the group, had the state’s resources been managed more effectively, its GDP could easily have been more than triple its current level, exposing a large gap between Delta State’s potential and its current economic standing.
Further critiquing the state’s financial management, the NDC pointed to neighboring states, Edo and Anambra, which despite having smaller GDPs, have exhibited impressive financial discipline.
Both states have generated sufficient Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to meet their operating expenses, with IGR-to-operating-expense ratios of 110% and 108.38%, respectively, in 2024.
For instance, Anambra State generated N42.04 billion in IGR, surpassing its recurrent spending of N20.67 billion. In contrast, Delta State’s IGR of ₦150.78 billion in 2024 was not enough to cover its recurrent expenditure of ₦188.16 billion.
In the statement, the NDC further pointed out that Delta State’s projected IGR for 2025 is ₦134.09 billion, which will only cover 38.4% of its recurrent expenditure of ₦348.77 billion.
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The group made it clear that after 25 years of governance by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the state has still not been able to meet its personnel costs of ₦185.75 billion without depending heavily on FAAC allocations.
“The glaring reality is that after 25 years of PDP governance, Delta State remains unable to cover its personnel costs of ₦185.75 billion without relying heavily on FAAC allocations.
This is a clear indication of the state’s financial mismanagement and lack of economic growth, which is unacceptable given the state’s rich resources and potential for development,” the statement read.
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