The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Muhammad Shehu Bello, has implored state governors to find ways to reduce the high cost of governance.
Dr. Bello in a statement on Sunday said that such efforts would play a significant role in preserving limited resources for the sustainable development of Nigeria.
According to Dr Shehu, the high cost of governance in Nigeria is largely due to the extensive nature of the large bureaucracy, the duplication of government ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as widespread corruption.
He highlighted the importance of these measures in preventing a decline in infrastructure and social services, as well as addressing issues related to decreased investment, rising unemployment, and escalating insecurity.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for his directive to reduce the size of the official convoys for ministers and chief executives, viewing it as a valuable step towards lowering governance costs. Dr. Bello encouraged state governments to implement similar actions.
“Other factors were the high cost of public service delivery due to infrastructure failure, high-security costs as a result of insurgencies, kidnappings, ethnoreligious agitations, armed robbery, multiple salaries and severance allowances, extravagant activities and expenditures, high domestic and foreign debts, as well as weak enforcement institutions.”
The Commission decries the high cost of governance in Nigeria over the years, which is alarming, and unsustainable and has continued to generate public concern and discourse due to its negative implications on investment, industrial expansion, infrastructure development, and the growth of the real sectors of the economy.
“The realization that all three (3) arms of government are involved is even more disturbing. The Commission has at different fora made its position known on this matter through paper presentations,” he said.
“It is evident that Nigeria’s cost of governance is among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has significantly hindered the government’s ability to fulfill its primary responsibilities such as infrastructural development, providing quality healthcare, improving educational standards, etc.”
The Commission recommends the immediate implementation of the Orosanye report, as previously intended by the administration.
This includes a reduction in the number of political appointees, as suggested in the RMAFC’s remuneration package for Political and Public Office Holders, and ensuring prudent spending of government funds at all levels.
It was emphasized that no society can achieve meaningful progress without a competent and cost-effective management system capable of maximizing the nation’s resources for the benefit of everyone.
Dr. Shehu noted that the RMAFC has historically advocated for a reduction in the cost of governance. This approach aims to preserve scarce resources for the sustainable development of the country.
The RMAFC has also provided comprehensive suggestions and recommendations to governments at all levels regarding the need to cut unnecessary expenditures and to monitor spending on developmental projects that positively impact the lives of citizens.
