Falana slams South-West governors over reckless spending and poor governance

DDM News

(DDM) – Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has publicly criticized governors and lawmakers in the South-West, particularly the Lagos State House of Assembly, over what he termed irresponsible governance and extravagant use of public funds.

Falana expressed deep concern over the rising trend of financial recklessness among state lawmakers, warning that public scrutiny must not stop at the Federal Government.

He made these comments while reacting to recent reports highlighting the Lagos Assembly’s controversial spending spree.

DDM gathered that the Lagos State House of Assembly has already expended a staggering N45 billion on Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for lawmakers and is allegedly planning to commit another N20 billion to additional utility vehicles.

Falana questioned the rationale behind such large-scale luxury expenditures at a time when citizens across the country are facing unprecedented economic hardship.

He noted that the state governments, especially in the South-West, often escape scrutiny while the Federal Government absorbs most of the public criticism.

According to him, this double standard weakens accountability and contributes to a broader culture of impunity at the subnational level.

Speaking further, Falana stressed the need for transparency in the use of public funds and urged Nigerians to begin applying the same level of civic vigilance to state governments and assemblies as they do to the presidency and National Assembly.

He said, “Governance at the state level is fast becoming a haven for wasteful spending. While we blame the Federal Government for everything, state assemblies are approving billions for vehicles in the middle of an economic crisis.”

DDM reports that Falana’s criticism has sparked renewed calls for legislative reform and budgetary discipline in state governments, particularly in Lagos, which is widely seen as the most economically advanced in the country.

Many citizens have taken to social media to echo his concerns, demanding a breakdown of the expenditures and questioning whether the purchases align with the urgent needs of their constituencies.

This is not the first time Falana has raised alarms about financial mismanagement and the abuse of democratic processes in Nigeria.

Over the years, he has consistently advocated for open governance and citizen-led oversight to ensure that elected officials are held accountable for their actions.

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to deepen, with inflation rising and unemployment rates climbing, the contrast between the lavish spending by political leaders and the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians has become even more glaring.

Falana’s remarks are expected to increase pressure on state governors and lawmakers to justify their budgets and embrace more responsible fiscal practices.

He concluded by stating that true democracy cannot thrive when lawmakers are disconnected from the realities of the people they claim to represent.

According to Falana, a government that prioritizes luxury vehicles over public welfare does not deserve to go unchallenged.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook