We must cut cost of governance to deliver infrastructures – Gbajabiamila
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila on Thursday, August 13, said there is a need to introduce cost-cutting mechanism in the operation governance to shore up revenue for infrastructure development.
According to Gbajabiamila, Nigeria is currently battling a serious fiscal problem and the reduction in the cost of governance will improve internal revenue generation in order to deliver the infrastructure required to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty. The speaker, made this assertion at the beginning of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) revenue considerations with revenue-generating agencies.
Gbajabiamila further stated that revenue-generating agencies have a significant role to part to play in helping Nigeria increase its revenue base.
He therefore, expressed frustration that there has been continuing failure to comply with the revenue remittance agreements to which many of these agencies have committed. He further noted that the legislature is backed by law to ensure the country’s resources are used judiciously for the betterment of the masses.
He said: “We have a responsibility to act with urgent determination to build the infrastructure of opportunity that is required to lift millions of our fellow citizens out of poverty.”
Therefore, we need to impose deep cuts in the cost of governance and improve internal revenue generation and collection so that we can free up resources that can then be deployed to fund policy initiatives that will enhance the lives of our people.”
President Muhhamdu Buhari, on Friday, June 12, confirmed that he has begun the process to cut the country’s cost of governance following Nigeria’s unstable economic resources.
President Buhari corroborated this at a broadcast to celebrate 2020 Democracy Day in Abuja. The president, further averred that he has sanctioned the review of the federal government white paper on the Stephen Oronsaye report. The implementation of this review will involve the rationalization of government parastatals, ministries and agencies with the intention of slashing cost.
However, the president vowed to keep supporting the reforms which are aimed to revive accountability in the public service, 5 years after, Nigerians speak about Buhari’s administration.
