Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has alleged that some ministers pay billions of naira to secure appointments.
Hassan made the allegation during an interview with Charles Aniagolu on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Thursday night, while defending President Bola Tinubu’s approach to managing government revenue and expenditure.
Asked how government intends to fund its budget amid concerns about revenue shortfalls, Hassan questioned the importance of the budget and argued that Tinubu’s personal oversight of government spending was preferable to leaving expenditure decisions to ministers.
Hassan argued that successive administrations had failed to address corruption among public officials, particularly ministers.
Whatever it is a budget is supposed to do in this country in the last three and a half years, Asiwaju (President Bola Tinubu) has done it by himself. Why do we need ministers? Why do we need budget to be given to ministers?” he asked.
When Aniagolu suggested that the administration was deliberately approving budgets without adequately funding them, Hassan praised Tinubu’s direct involvement in expenditure decisions.
“The way Asiwaju is hands-on on the expenditure of our revenue is fantastic, and I love it,” he said.
Hassan then alleged that some ministers paid huge sums to secure their appointments and enter office intending to recover their investments.
Charles, 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.
He added that the alleged practice was not limited to the APC, claiming that ministers have been among the most corrupt officials across successive administrations.
The biggest fraudulent people you arrest after every government are ministers,” Hassan said.
ANIAGOLU DEMANDS ANSWERS OVER ALLEGATIONS
In a post on X following the interview, Aniagolu said Hassan’s allegation raised serious questions about the process of appointing ministers and the possible financial interests behind public appointments.
The presenter said he had reminded Hassan that the ministers he was referring to were appointed under the APC-led administration, while Hassan maintained that the alleged practice predated the party.
“Who allegedly collects these billions? Who pays? Who is selling public appointments? And are Nigerians ultimately made to pay for it through corruption?” he said.
“If these claims are true, they demand a credible investigation. If not, Mr Hassan owes Nigerians a clear explanation.
“Public office is a public trust, not a private investment to be recouped at taxpayers’ expense.”
Cc: The Cable