The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, stressed the need for transparency, accountability, and the elimination of unnecessary expenditures to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria.
He made this call on Monday during a one-day dialogue on the cost of governance in Nigeria organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies in Abuja.
Represented by Sen. Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Rivers), Akpabio highlighted several factors contributing to the high cost of governance in the country. These included the size of the bureaucracy, escalating public service wage bills, overhead costs of appointed public officials, and the salaries and allowances of elected officials.
He emphasized that the operation of government institutions and other substantial components were weighing down the economy and hindering development efforts. Akpabio urged accountability, responsibility, and efficient service delivery for the betterment of the nation.
“The size of our bureaucracy, the escalating public service wage bills, the overhead costs of appointed public officials, and the salaries and allowances of elected officials are major factors contributing to the high cost of governance in the country,” he said.
He stressed the need to streamline bureaucracy, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and ensure transparency and accountability at all levels of governance.
“We must invest in our human capital, empowering our public officials with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive progress. And we must foster a culture of innovation and creativity, where new ideas can flourish and transform our nation,” he added.
Akpabio urged all Nigerians to remain united, become agents of change, and be committed to making sacrifices for the nation. He assured that the 10th Assembly was ready to partner with all stakeholders to do everything within its constitutional powers to make Nigeria better for all citizens.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, echoed the call for a reduction in government spending, stating that it resonated loudly across the nation and it was incumbent upon leaders to respond.
“We must adopt measures that streamline our expenditure in line with the prevailing economic realities,” Abbas said.
He emphasized the need to eliminate wasteful, inefficient, and unnecessary expenses from budgetary allocations to address Nigeria’s long-standing budget deficits and foster budgetary stability.
Earlier, the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, highlighted the importance of efficiency and accountability in governance, emphasizing that they directly impacted the prosperity and well-being of the nation.
He explained that the dialogue provided an opportunity to holistically re-evaluate the approach to governance and the viability of the parliamentary system as a cost-effective alternative to the current presidential system of government.
“The overall aim of the dialogue is to collectively chart a path towards fiscal prudence, transparency, and accountability that encapsulates stakeholder perceptions drawn from across civil society,” Sulaiman said.
He mentioned that these discussions would form part of the overarching governance roadmap and interventions of the current administration under President Bola Tinubu, who had shown an unyielding commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Oronsaye Report and reducing the cost of governance.
“The solutions lie within our zeal to enact change, and to work towards a future where the cost of governance is not a burden, but an investment in the prosperity of every Nigerian,” Sulaiman concluded.
