The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu's decision to exempt the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), a system designed to ensure transparency in revenue generation and allocation. According to HURIWA, this move is arbitrary and empowers Minister Nyesom Wike, positioning him as a powerful force within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) [1).
Despite serving under the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, Wike continues to wield significant influence over the PDP's internal affairs. HURIWA expressed concerns that this exclusion threatens fiscal accountability and reinforces suspicions that the APC is utilizing key PDP figures like Wike to undermine the opposition. The group believes this strategy aims to keep the PDP divided and weakened, ultimately allowing the APC to consolidate power and move towards establishing a one-party state.
Minister Wike justified the exclusion, stating that the TSA has hindered the FCTA's ability to access funding for infrastructure projects. He claimed that President Tinubu approved the removal to enable the administration to access loans from commercial banks and embark on massive infrastructure projects ¹. However, HURIWA remains skeptical, emphasizing the dangers of this precedent.
The TSA was established to ensure all revenue receipts and payments are done through a Consolidated Revenue Account (CRA) at the Central Bank of Nigeria. By exempting the FCT Ministry, the government may undermine the TSA's purpose and create opportunities for financial mismanagement ¹. As the debate surrounding this decision continues, transparency and accountability in governance remain crucial concerns.
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