Reduce cost of governance, Afenifere tells Tinubu

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has decried the hardship Nigerians are facing as a result of petrol subsidy removal by the Federal Government, saying the government should alleviate the suffering.

The group also called on President Bola Tinubu to reduce the cost of governance in the country, as it blamed the government for wasting a lot of money on frivolities in the running of the government.

The Secretary-General of the association, Mr Sola Ebiseni, stated this in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the association, there was a need for the government to implement and update the Orosanye’s report.

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The statement read, “No one today questions the need for sacrifices by citizens to restore the fiscal viability of the country. However, that sacrifice must be made by all, and in a progressive manner. Those at the leadership of the country must lead by example.

“It is time we addressed the inordinate cost of governance in a very open, substantial and substantive way. The gargantuan waste of public funds in running government with a multiplicity of agencies and offices of doubtful benefit to society must end.

“The Oransaye’s Report must be updated to capture new agencies that have been added to the federal bureaucracy since the report and to reflect the new compelling and urgent need to reduce the cost of governance. The notoriously opaque, obscene and unconscionable salaries, allowances, perks and “retirement benefits” of Executive and Legislative arms of government at all levels unbelievably more generous than the remuneration of public officers in eminently wealthier nations, must immediately be brought in line with the reality of our economy and productivity.

“Similarly, a review of Code of Conduct and the General Service Rules must be instituted to rid the service of the mentality that has allowed the reckless abuse and leakages in the system under the false impression that the country is rich. There is no virtue in profligacy, but there is honour in prudence. For example, while public officers at all levels move around in endless motorcades of exotic bulletproof foreign cars and the Presidency keeps a fleet of 11 presidential jets, much richer nations do not indulge in such frivolities and extravagance.”

The group also reiterated the call for restructuring of the country, saying it would go a long way in addressing the security challenges in the country.

“We remain committed to the restructuring of the federation such that the federating nationalities and states will have the true capacity for internal security,” the statement declared.