Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has questioned the role of ministers in government, alleging that some pay billions of naira to secure appointments and later seek to recover their investments.
Hassan made the allegation during an interview on Arise News on Thursday, describing ministers as some of the most corrupt officials in successive Nigerian administrations.
According to him, the alleged practice is not peculiar to the APC-led government of President Bola Tinubu but dates back to previous administrations.
“Every time a government goes out, the most criminal elements in government are ministers,” Hassan said.
He alleged that some individuals spend billions of naira to secure ministerial appointments and subsequently focus on recouping the money rather than serving the public.
“A lot of ministers pay billions to be appointed, and the first thing they think of is how to recoup that money after being appointed,” he said.
Hassan further questioned the need for ministers to oversee budget implementation, arguing that greater attention should be given to ensuring that approved government budgets are adequately funded and executed.
The APC campaign spokesperson also defended Tinubu’s administration, citing its reported interventions in the power sector as evidence of efforts to address the country’s electricity challenges.
He claimed that the President had approved more than ₦4 trillion for electricity meters, arguing that expanding household metering was essential to improving power supply.
“There is no way you fix power issue without having every household powered,” he said.
On the installation of solar power systems at the Presidential Villa, Hassan pointed to financing support introduced through Credicorp, which he said was designed to help civil servants acquire solar systems.
Turning to the 2027 general election, Hassan expressed confidence that Tinubu’s projects and infrastructure interventions in parts of Northern Nigeria could strengthen the President’s electoral prospects in states such as Bauchi and Kano, where he lost in the 2023 presidential election.
He cited road projects in Kano and the renovation of 287 primary schools, alongside more than 4,000 classrooms through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), as examples of the administration’s achievements.
Hassan maintained that the projects could help improve the APC’s standing among voters ahead of the next general election.
His allegations concerning payments for ministerial appointments were not accompanied by specific names or supporting evidence in the reported interview.
