APC campaign spokesman Alwan Hassan alleges some ministers pay billions for appointments and seek to recoup the money, raising questions about public office.
A spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Alwan Hassan, has alleged that some ministers pay billions of naira to secure government appointments and subsequently seek to recover the money.
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Hassan made the allegation during an interview on Arise News on Thursday, while defending President Bola Tinubu’s direct involvement in government revenue and expenditure decisions.
“The way Asiwaju is hands-on on the expenditure of our revenue is fantastic and I love it. A lot of ministers pay billions and billions, and, you know, to get themselves appointed. The first thing they think of is how to recoup that money,” he said.
However, Hassan did not identify any minister or provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.
He also clarified that his remarks were not directed specifically at ministers serving under the APC-led administration.
He described the alleged practice as a longstanding problem in Nigeria, arguing that concerns about corruption among public office holders predated the ruling party.
“But this is the truth I’m telling you about our country. Not just APC. Before APC, the biggest fraudulent people you arrest after every government are ministers,” he added.
The APC campaign spokesman made the remarks while responding to questions about the government’s ability to meet its budgetary commitments despite funding constraints.
He praised Tinubu’s personal involvement in expenditure decisions, arguing that the President’s oversight had helped the administration manage public funds.
Hassan questioned whether ministers should have substantial control over budget implementation when the President could oversee spending directly.
“Whatever it is a budget is supposed to do in this country in the last three and a half years, Asiwaju has done it by himself. Why do we need ministers? Why do we need budget to be given to ministers?” he said.
His comments raised questions about the balance between presidential oversight and the responsibilities of ministers in implementing government policies and managing their respective portfolios.
Hassan also defended the Tinubu administration’s record on pension payments, claiming that the government had released funds to settle outstanding entitlements owed to retired federal civil servants.
He cited an exit benefit scheme for retiring civil servants, which he described as an effort to ensure that workers received their retirement entitlements without delay.
The campaign spokesman further pointed to government investments in electricity metering and technology, including electric vehicles, surveillance drones and domestic ammunition production, as evidence of the administration’s performance.
He maintained that the government’s record would strengthen the APC’s prospects ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Hassan’s allegations about ministers paying for appointments remain unsubstantiated in the account of the interview.
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No specific individuals were named, and the remarks do not establish that any serving minister engaged in such conduct.
