- Says reducing travel entourage good but…
BY EDMOND ODOK – The Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023 election, Peter Obi, says mere reduction of travel entourages by the Federal Government will not achieve the desired impact of saving for investment in the productive sector of the economy and development.
According to him, what the country and Nigerians need at the moment was a 60 per cent cut in the cost of governance in order to save funds required to recalibrate the system for development purposes in the country.
In a statement via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle late Wednesday, the former Anambra State Governor said the current move by government was just like “scratching the surface”, noting that the action it will only lead to a negligible saving.
This is as he also tasked the Tinubu administration on the need to revisit and review the 2024 budget in order to do away with “all wasteful and unnecessary items.”
The Labour Party flag bearer, who spoke against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s decision to reduce the size of entourages for both local and international travels by 60 per cent, said; “The just announced 60% cut in the size of federal official entourages on travels is one positive step towards the reduction of cost of governance and a way of halting wastage.
“But this measure is just scratching the surface as it is limited in scope and can only lead to a very negligible saving. We are yet to be told how much savings this will amount to.”
According to him; “While this modest step may be somewhat commendable, what is desirable should be both a 60 percent reduction in federal official overseas trips as well as a 60 percent reduction in the size of delegations”.
Forefront News recalls that the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in announcing the new presidential directives, had said the move was part of the Presidency’s cost-cutting measures in line with current economic realities in the country.
The Presidential Spokesman explained that the directives affect the office of the President, Vice President, First Lady, Wife of the Vice President, Ministers and Heads of agencies and parastatals.
