Coalition Slams Delta Finance Commissioner: You Lied, Delta GDP Falls Short Of Its Huge FAAC, IGR 

…Don’t stand a chance of being strongest financial state in Nigeria

Delta State Government’s claim to being the strongest financial state in Nigeria has been ‘exposed as a blatant lie’, with the state’s GDP standing at a paltry ₦6.19 trillion, far behind Lagos State’s ₦41.17 trillion.

The group, ‘New Delta Coalition’ (NDC) disclosed this in a strong worded statement laced with ‘facts and figures’ on Monday in response to claims by State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije.

Tilije, had recently stated that Delta State remains the “strongest financial state standing in this country” in a bid to defend Governor Sheriff Oborevwori acclaimed ‘no borrowing regime’ following Debt Management Office report which profiled Delta State as leading the states with highest debt profile as of September 2024 revealing that four states of which Delta was among borrowed an additional N118.3 billion from domestic sources between July and September 2024. 

According to Tilije, “this state has not entered into any borrowing relationship whatsoever, whether partnership, individual, corporate, bank, local, national or international. We have not borrowed a dime since this administration took effect on the 29th of May, 2023.

“I can state categorically in any forum I found myself, that Delta State remains, in terms of financial terms, the strongest financial state standing in this country.

“I say so with every emphasis because I know the finances of the state, and I say that we are clearly, clearly the strongest financial state in Nigeria.

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“I can stand this debate at any point in time, because I know the balances as I speak to you today. I know the efforts that are being made by this administration.

“We stand categorically, heads up, to state that this administration has not borrowed a dime since 29th of May, 2023”, he added.

But NDC in a statement on its behalf by Godwin Anaughe, debunked Delta State government’s attempt to “deceive the public about its financial prowess”, revealing a dire financial situation and a lack of accountability. 

NDC stated categorically that despite being the highest recipient of FAAC allocations in Nigeria, Delta State’s GDP is woefully inadequate, casting serious doubt on the government’s financial management.

According to the Coalition, “the claim made by Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, that Delta State is the strongest financial state in Nigeria, is a blatant falsehood. This egregious lie is an insult to the intelligence of the people of Delta State and a desperate attempt to conceal the state’s dire financial situation.

“The facts unequivocally contradict Chief Tilije’s claim. For instance, Lagos State boasts a GDP of ₦41.17 trillion, while Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Imo states have a GDP of ₦7.96 trillion, ₦7.77 trillion, and ₦7.68 trillion, respectively. In stark contrast, Delta State’s GDP stands at a paltry ₦6.19 trillion, casting serious doubt on its financial prowess.

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“Furthermore, considering Delta State’s privileged position as the highest recipient of FAAC allocations in Nigeria, its GDP should be substantially higher. In fact, if its resources had been judiciously managed, Delta State’s GDP should be more than triple its current level. This glaring disparity between the state’s potential and actual performance is a clear indication of the government’s mismanagement and lack of accountability.

“Additionally, neighboring states Edo and Anambra, despite having lower GDPs, have demonstrated remarkable financial prudence, generating sufficient Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to cover their operating expenses, with impressive IGR-to-operating-expense ratios of 110% and 108.38% in 2024, respectively. These states are in better standing financially than Delta State. Anambra State generated more revenue (N42.04 billion) than its recurrent spending of N20.67 billion. Also, Abia State, led by Governor Alex Otti, spent N24.74 billion on operating expenses and generated N33.14 billion in IGR.

“Conversely, with a budgeted meager IGR of ₦134.09 billion and recurrent expenditure of ₦348.77 billion for 2025, Delta State has an IGR-to-operating-expense ratio of only 38.4%, which is woefully inadequate to cover its recurrent expenditure. In 2024, Delta state’s recurrent expenditure was N188.16 billion, while it earned N150.78 billion as IGR.

“The glaring reality is that after 25 years of PDP governance, Delta State remain unable to cover its personnel costs of N185.75 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.

“At the heart of Delta State’s financial crisis lies the state government’s gross mismanagement, characterized by reckless spending, rampant corruption, and a lack of transparency. The consequences of this mismanagement are far-reaching, resulting in a lack of funds for critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare. This, in turn, has led to widespread poverty and unemployment, causing immense suffering for the people of Delta State.

“It is imperative that the government takes responsibility for its actions and works towards finding solutions to the state’s financial challenges. The people of Delta State must demand the truth and hold their government accountable for its actions. Chief Tilije’s attempt to deceive the public is a desperate bid to deflect attention from the government’s failures and maintain a veneer of credibility.

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“This brazen deception is an affront to the people’s trust and a clear indication that the state government is more interested in perpetuating falsehoods than in addressing the state’s pressing financial challenges. It is time for a new era of transparency and accountability in Delta State. The government must prioritize the welfare of its citizens and work towards creating a prosperous and financially stable state”.

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