Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has
asked public officials to cut down on the cost of governance as well as prevent
wastage.
In a statement by Sola Ebiseni, secretary-general of
Afenifere, the socio-political group said there is a need for sacrifices by
citizens to restore the fiscal viability of the country, but the sacrifice must
be made by all and in a progressive manner.
Afenifere said those at the helm of affairs must also 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 the government with a multiplicity of agencies and offices of doubtful benefit to society must end,” the group said.
“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. “
According to the group, a review of the code of conduct and
the general service rules must be instituted to rid the service of the
mentality that has allowed the “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 eleven Presidential jets, much
richer nations do not indulge in such frivolities and extravagance. Nigeria can
no longer afford these excesses and we must put an end to them going forward,”
Afenifere said.
‘NIGERIANS ARE
RESIGNING TO HOPELESSNESS’
The group said the social misery index is at an all-time
high and more Nigerians are resigning to hopelessness due to poverty.
“If nothing concrete is done to ameliorate the current level
of hardship on the people, it may lead to massive unrest the country may not be
able to contain as things spiral out of control”
The socio-political group added that Nigerians expect no
less than a courageous and fine-tooth-comb investigation towards recovering
public funds and bringing those culpable to book.
“Nigerians must no longer be saddled with the burden of the
gargantuan and wasteful funds spent on the fat emoluments of “refinery” workers
who produce nothing but are kept on obscene job packages that cost our people
N70bn per annum (by estimates published two years ago). This is the justice
that Nigeria and Nigerians deserve and expect for the calls for their sacrifice,”
Afenifere said.
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