Professor Udenta Udenta, a Political Affairs Analyst, has argued that the current devaluation of the Nigerian currency undermines the supposed increase in monthly revenue allocated to each state of the Federation.
In an interview aired on TrustTV News on Wednesday, he stressed that what truly matters is not the amount of money received but the actual value of the funds disbursed by the Federal Government.
He dismissed the much-publicized claim by President Bola Tinubu’s administration that state governors no longer struggle to pay workers’ salaries due to higher statutory allocations. Udenta pointed out that former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan, and Olusegun Obasanjo also did not owe salaries during their respective tenures.
"It is not how much money you collect that counts but the value of the money in your hand. Buhari didn't owe salaries, Jonathan didn't owe salaries, Obasanjo didn't owe salaries, go and check the records," he asserted.
He further noted that during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, food items were significantly more affordable compared to the present situation. He argued that the current salaries of Nigerian workers are grossly inadequate to cover essential needs such as transportation, feeding, housing, and clothing.
Udenta remained visibly unconvinced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s performance more than two years into his administration.
His words: "Even when you are paid a salary, it is a meaningless salary. One department, transportation will wipe everything out. How about food, not even for yourself alone but for your family. When Jonathan was President, a bag of rice was N8,000. Now it is 60, 70, or 80,000 naira depending. So if you have that money, in quantum, it is meaningless money."

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