VANGUARD
A coalition of civil societies in Osun State, The Osun Masterminds, TOM, has insisted that reducing the number of convoys for ministers is not enough measure to reduce the cost of governance, and urged President Bola Tinubu to reduce travel expenses as well.
The group also charged governors across the country to reduce travel expenses in a bid to reduce cost of governance and help Nigerians through the present hardship.
The group, in a statement by its Executive Director, Professor Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli said the President’s instruction to Ministers to reduce their convoys to three vehicles would not effectively reduce the cost of governance but should also bring down cost on travels.
Oyedokun-Alli said: “We appeal to every public office holder to be more empathic with the people by cutting off unnecessary expenses often characterised by needless and avoidable travels particularly in the offices of the President, Vice president and the governors of the states.
“Cutting down on the numbers of official vehicles isn’t the only way by which cost of governance can be brought down. The political class can’t be feeding fat at the expense of the hunger of the people.”
The group also urged Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to deal with the current hardship by using the increased federal allocation to enhance quality of people’s lives.
He said: “It is deeply disturbing that while the Federal Government is not doing much to alleviate the suffering of the people, the State Governments which are now earning increased Federal allocations, are also not doing anything to make life easier for their people. In Osun here, instead of pursuing accelerated human development policies, we are busy constructing flyovers, and arguing over inanities.
“The people of Nigeria and Osun deserve to have a better life than the current hardship that they are battling with. Our people deserve to be happy and live in a society where their dreams and aspirations are allowed to thrive.
“We are again calling on the Federal Government and the Osun State Government more importantly, to as a matter of urgency, intensify efforts to free the masses from the shackles of poverty. We must work…
