Government officials would have their travel budgets cut in half, according to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s announcement last week.
In a briefing with State House reporters, Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s special adviser on media and publicity, revealed that the president will travel with a staff of twenty, while the vice president will travel with a staff of just five.
On domestic excursions, the president will be escorted by a staff of 25, the vice president by fifteen, and the first lady by ten.
On Monday, during Governor Hope Uzodinma’s inauguration for a second term in office in Imo State, Tinubu faced his first test following the news.
The president reportedly had a large entourage—well over the 25 he had previously declared for domestic travels.
It seemed inevitable, according to some analysts, that lawmakers and government employees would thwart the president’s proposal.
Speaking on the matter, Murkthar Suleiman, a communication strategist based in Abuja, stated that vested interests among government employees who may seek to inflate data constituted a significant obstacle that Tinubu would have to overcome.
The president should eliminate several government agencies and ministries, according to Suleiman, who also suggested that the funds be used for infrastructure development.
In an interview with SAREWAHAUSA, he described the opposition as having “vested interest” in the matter and warned Tinubu of their influence.
If the policies are sound but the politics are flawed, it will be hard for them to have any impact, as I have often stated that successful governance is the result of both good policies and good politics.
Even though he is the head of the military, he is nevertheless subject to the whims of those around him.
“How is he going to make sure that those special interests realize that cutting the cost of government is better than cutting the cost of what we’re running?” No need to feel sorry for him; after all, he did say he applied for the Job.
We are aware that the high cost of governance is not in running the agency or performing the function, but in padding the budget. The key issue is the vested interest of the civil officials.
How then can we deal with something that is literally a block away from corruption?
“A higher quality of life for people and the development of jobs are the direct results of reducing the cost of government, which frees up funds to be directed elsewhere.
We need to put our emotions aside and look at things rationally.
When we talk about reducing the cost of governance, what we really mean is eliminating wasteful spending.
For instance, it would cost around half a billion dollars to relocate the president and his security detail, not to mention fuel their jet.
It is imperative that the president reduce spending on some MDAs. Some of the president’s recent appointees in the cultural and artistic sectors of the economy, for example, are merely restating the status quo.
All these entertainment agencies seem to be doing the same thing, so it’s hard to tell how they came to be. These are some of the items that should go since they are unnecessary and do not contribute to the country’s goals.
“The funding for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs should be transferred to the president’s office so that it can be redirected to more reasonable endeavors. I hope they dismantle the ministry because it is a money laundering scheme.”
Pastor Adewale Giwa of the Awaiting Christ’s Second Coming ministry has urged President Buhari to hear the cries of the Nigerian people and cut spending on government.
Giwa claims that Tinubu has to start lowering government spending by limiting funding for the National Assembly and state governors.
At this trying time, no one should suggest that a leader cut the budget for government services.
Spending N200 million in 2024 on animal feed for Aso Rock was a waste of money.
In the best interest of Nigerians, I believe the president is a listening leader who will swiftly lower the cost of governance.
“The president’s decision to allocate N200 million to feed animals is deeply troubling for the population, especially considering the acute economic crisis our country is currently experiencing.
From the National Assembly on down to the governors, we must begin to reduce the expense of governance.
It would have been more appropriate for Tinubu to open borders that his predecessor had closed upon taking office. Instead, he put the wagon before the horse.
Introducing price control and getting things running is the way to go, he told SAREWAHAUSA, adding that selling fuel at a rate of N650 per litre is ridiculous.
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