By Fatima Saka
ABUJA — Senator Pam Dachungyang, representing Plateau North Senatorial District, has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s sluggish progress under the Tinubu administration, citing severe challenges in budget implementation and escalating insecurity across the country.
Speaking ahead of the two-year anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the 10th National Assembly, the Senator on Wednesday offered a candid assessment of the current state of governance. While commending efforts in revenue generation and legislative productivity, he lamented the crippling bottlenecks in the Ministry of Finance and its agencies, particularly the Office of the Accountant-General, which he claims have stalled national development.
“Many contractors are suffering because the money is not there,” Dachungyang said. “There are a lot of bottlenecks in the finance sector. If the Ministry of Finance does not take the bull by the horn and allow things to move, the President would just be joking.”
He noted that despite the removal of fuel subsidies a policy he personally welcomed the expected financial relief has not materialized.
“Where does the money go?” he asked. “We should be in a position where Nigeria doesn’t have to borrow a dime. But if funds are diverted or mismanaged, then we are just recycling debt.”
On security, Senator Dachungyang painted a grim picture of his constituency, where he says villages are regularly attacked, lives lost, and communities displaced often by heavily armed assailants speaking foreign languages.
“These attackers are not Nigerians. They don’t speak any local dialects. Some speak what sounds like a mixture of French or Latin. They kill indiscriminately Christian, Muslim, farmer or herder it doesn’t matter. This is an external threat, and we are treating it as internal strife.”
In response, he endorsed the proposed National Security Summit initiated by the Senate President, calling it “long overdue” and essential for identifying root causes and crafting a unified response to the worsening violence.
Addressing speculation about his political future and potential defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the senator dismissed it, saying he remains loyal to his party the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and sees no reason to defect unless his party faces crisis or adopts an alliance strategy.
“Defection for personal gain is not politics. If you’re leaving your party just to secure re-election, then you’re not a serious politician,” he said. “But if it’s to add value or for national unity, that’s a different conversation.”
Dachungyang also criticized misinformation in the media, warning journalists against misrepresenting facts or twisting leaders’ statements, especially on sensitive national issues.
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“Misinterpreting people’s views is a disaster,” he said. “Journalists must play by the rules to help us build a better country.”
With strong words and unflinching clarity, Senator Dachungyang’s remarks offer both a sobering reflection of the current state of Nigeria and a call for decisive action to overcome its persistent governance and security woes.
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