By Tom Okpe
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, (LP) in the last general election, Peter Obi wants the Federal Government to go beyond the 60% cut in travel allowance of officials and cut the cost of entire governance by 60% which the current economic reality in the country demands.
The LP standard bearer said in his X handle platform that the just announced 60% cut in the size of federal official entourages on travels, is one positive step towards the reduction of cost of governance and a way of halting wastage.
“This measure is just scratching the surface, as It is limited in scope and can only lead to a very negligible saving. We are yet to be told how much savings this will amount to.
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“While this modest step may be somewhat commendable, what is desirable should be both a 60% reduction in federal official overseas trips as well as a 60% reduction in the size of delegations.
“Most importantly, what our current economic reality demands is a 60% reduction in the total cost of governance at the Federal Level.
“This implies that the recently passed federal budget needs to be revised to cut all wasteful, and unnecessary items.
“This is the level of cost-cutting and savings that can impact meaningfully, present state of the economy.
“This level of cut in the cost of government should lead to substantial savings. Such savings should be used to fund the productive sectors of the economy and much-needed social investments, especially in three key areas: education, healthcare, and the migration of millions of Nigerians from poverty.
“Most importantly, it is not enough to announce arbitrary cuts in the size of federal official entourages.
“The nation needs to be informed of how much the measure will save and where such savings will be applied.
“Our problem as a nation has gone beyond token populist gestures and announcements. We must be informed of the real details of the measures being implemented on our behalf.
“For a government that has made a hobby of indiscriminate borrowing, the only way to salvage the economy is to drastically cut the cost of government by reducing wasteful expenses and spending on inessential luxury items,” Obi said.
