Citizens to Tinubu: Cut cost of governance, Nigerians suffering

At a time the country is ensnared in economic hardship, and the citizenry urged to make more sacrifices and tighten their proverbial belts to combat the economic challenges, some of the expenditures and plans of the Federal Government are  raising dust in the polity.

High number of ministers: Starting with the nomination and appointment of ministers, President Bola Tinubu altogether, in August, made 51 nominations of which the National Assembly cleared 48, who have since been sworn-in. With the move, the president jettisoned the recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye Committee, which recommended the scrapping and merger of government agencies and parastatals to cut down cost of governance. As it is, Tinubu’s cabinet is the largest since the return of civil rule in 1999.

UNGA hotel accommodation: The Federal Government spent a massive $507,384 (N390.7 million) on hotel accommodation for government delegation during the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York last September. In the memo dated September 11th 2023 signed by State House Permanent Secretary Adebiyi O. Olufunso, an additional $84,564 (N65.1 million) was for unspecified incidental charges.

Critics slammed the massive hotel expenses for the one week UNGA stay as wasteful, especially at a time when Nigeria faces severe economic challenges and high poverty levels. The lavish spending on accommodation far surpasses the annual income of most citizens.

N5.1bn Presidential Yacht: On November 1, the nation was jolted by the inclusion of N5.095 billion for the purchase of a presidential yacht in the 2023 supplementary budget of N2.17 trillion.

Amid the outrage that greeted the Yacht, the presidency said the operational naval boat with specialised gadgets referred to as Presidential Yacht in the 2023 supplementary budget was not for the use of President Tinubu.

“The Naval boat was ordered by the navy under the previous administration. President Tinubu has consistently said that the government is a continuum as he inherited both assets and liabilities of past administrations.

“The payment request for the boat was part of the committed obligation submitted by the office of the Chief of Naval Staff to the Ministry of Defence. The total of the submitted requests was in excess of N200 billion out of which N62 billion was approved by the President,” the presidency said.

Following the outcry, the National Assembly moved the N5.095 billion Yacht allocation to Student Loans even though the yacht is already in the country fueling more controversies over its fate.

N57.6 billion SUVs for NASS members: The dust kicked up by the N160m approved for each federal legislator to buy a car aside other huge allowances are yet to settle.

At 160 Million, the sum of N57.6billion would be spent to buy the vehicles for the lawmakers. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Sunday Karimi, defended the National Assembly over the disclosure that the legislators would receive SUVs worth 160 million naira each.

N20.5 billion for VP’s residences: After N2.5b was approved in the 2023 supplementary budget for the renovation of the Vice President’s residence in Abuja and N3b for the same purpose in Lagos, the FCT Minister is asking lawmakers to approve N15b to build a befitting house for the Vice President in Abuja.

1,411 COP28 climate summit delegates: The number of delegates Nigeria sent to the just ended COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE, also generated ripples. Nigeria’s delegation is 1,411 delegates, which makes Nigeria joint third with China after UAE and Brazil.

However, the government said it sponsored 422 delegates, which critics also dismissed as “too high”. Other bogus expenditures and proposals of the Federal Government include: plan to spend N3 billion on “acquisition, renovation and rehabilitation of two Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, fortified quarters as State House Complex” at Guzape and Mabushi respectively.

2024 Budget Proposal: In the 2024 Budget Proposal, there are some provisions that the citizens have queried as insensitive. For instance, in the Appropriation Bill, N319.28bn is to be spent on publicity, welfare, medical for the FG, MDA’s and presidency; N61.29bn is earmarked for renovation and construction of buildings; N20.52bn will be spent on the Presidential Fleet; N7.5bn for foreign trips for the president and vice president; N6.2bn is earmarked for State House operational vehicles while N5.84bn will be spent on meals for all MDA’s.

Opponents of the budget have argued that the spending is unnecessary and insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians, who are struggling to make ends meet amid rising inflation and economic hardship. The revelations have amplified calls for greater fiscal prudence in governance. Many argue that sacrificial leadership should start with cost-cutting excessive expenditures that do not benefit ordinary Nigerians.