JOHN ALECHENU writes on what appears to be an inevitable need to cut the cost of governance as the Federal Government, like its counterparts across the world, battles to rebuild the nation’s econom...
JOHN ALECHENU writes on what appears to be an inevitable need to cut the cost of governance as the Federal Government, like its counterparts across the world, battles to rebuild the nation’s economy post COVID-19
Reducing the cost of government has remained in public discourse since the 1980s when the International Monetary Fund-induced Structural Adjustment Programme was in vogue among a few African countries. “Now, there is a bigger issue. What about the ubiquitous security votes which has become a recurring decimal in our budgets?”on November, 2019 noted that no fewer than 127 out of the 676 ministries, departments and agencies budgeted the sum of N16.49bn as security votes.
It was observed that about 100 ministries and agencies which had no security orientation also set aside budgets for security votes. The Federal Government, like its counterparts around the world, will be faced with very hard choices on how best to keep the economy running in the coming months. According to him, there is no better time for the government to cut the cost of governance than now because the idea of states coming cap in hand to Abuja, at the end of each month, is no longer sustainable.
“What Nigerians should do is to insist that the wealth and opportunities of this great country should be equitably distributed to all Nigerians by way of good healthcare, education, job opportunities and other services that add value to their lives.” Onyekpere advised the regime to reduce the number of persons on the governing boards of all government agencies, parastatals and commissions to “not more than seven” while ensuring that the membership and composition of boards and commissions were based on merit and competence.
“Reduce the size of the federal cabinet through amendment of the Constitution to ensure that federal ministers do not exceed 15 in number and also limit the number of assistants and advisers to the President to a reasonable number.” “The budget has a huge amount allocated for debt servicing, this could be renegotiated and whatever that can be saved from there could be channelled for capital projects.”
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