Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said he misses the period when former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo played a central role in managing Nigeria’s economic affairs.
Makinde made the remark on Saturday in Ibadan, recalling Osinbajo’s tenure as chair of the National Economic Council (NEC), a body comprising the 36 state governors and chaired by the vice president at the discretion of the president.
“Sir, I personally miss you in that position (presidency). A lot of people may not know why things are not really the same. It’s not a political talk because I’m not on that podium,” the governor said.
He reflected on how Osinbajo’s leadership influenced key decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the lockdowns imposed across the country in 2020.
Makinde said Osinbajo was instrumental in persuading him to shut down Oyo State at a critical time, despite his initial reservations.
“I remember I was barely seven months into the position of the governor of Oyo State, and that was my very first public service job. And we had a crisis in the country; this was February 2020.
“There was COVID, and we came in for the National Economic Council meeting. It was a hot meeting; the chairman of the council (Osinbajo) came in, and a few of my colleagues. I wasn’t sure whether they held a meeting before that meeting, but they came in and said we should all go back and lock down our state. So, for Oyo State people, why I did not lock down during COVID was because of his decision,” Makinde said.
The governor also criticised how the current administration is handling proposed tax reform bills, describing the process as dismissive of input from state governors.
He said the approach contrasts sharply with what obtained in the past, when dialogue and consensus were prioritised.
“But we had the same situation in this dispensation; it was the tax bill, and we said, ‘Look, bring the tax bill; bring it back; let us all have an opportunity to look dispassionately at it,’ but you cannot speak truth to power in this dispensation; the tax bill will go ahead.
“They said the tax bill will go ahead. It is an affront for even the governors to be saying that what the presidency has done to send the tax bill to the National Assembly. The tax bill, we don’t know what was passed at the National Assembly, we don’t also know what was signed up. When I say I miss you, I miss you so much sir.”
What you should know
Governor Seyi Makinde’s comments highlight growing unease among some state governors over the federal government’s policy-making process, particularly on economic and fiscal matters.
By contrasting the current administration with the Osinbajo-led National Economic Council era, Makinde underscored concerns about reduced consultation, limited transparency, and weakened collaboration between the presidency and state governments. His remarks also revive debate around the handling of Nigeria’s tax reforms, with governors questioning both the content of the legislation and the process through which it was passed.
The comments reflect broader anxieties about governance style, economic coordination, and the ability of subnational leaders to influence national policy decisions.
