Governors must change
The change mantra of the new order under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari sounded sweet until the people began to swallow the bitter pills accompanying the promised revolution. Nigerians are as confused as the whole world following the doom accruing from the dwindling resources available to the government.
However, in the midst of recession as often preached by those in power, governments at all levels in the country fritter away hard earned resources while they expect compatriots to tighten their belts. It indeed appears lame that while the people are forced to live with hardship induced by maladministration, our leaders are living big and doing virtually nothing to salvage the situation.
This idea of blaming the immediate past government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan cannot sell anymore. We believe that after spending over 14 months in power, the Buhari administration should provide solutions, not excuses. And the way to get rid of the mess is still far away.
Nigeria may be copying the American democratic ideals but we are not and cannot claim to be the United States. In other words, the Federal Government cannot because President Barack Obama flies around the world on Air Force One maintain a bogus Presidential Fleet of aircraft.
If what the country needs at this time is an austere system of governance, it should start from the top. Government spends millions of scarce dollars and pounds to maintain the Presidential Fleet. In the years of petro dollar, it could. We cannot afford to continue to live like kings when our economy has been pauperized.
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Europe’s strongest economy can afford the luxury of a presidential jet, she does not. Neither Queen Elizabeth of England nor British Prime Minister Theresa May flies a presidential jet. Both powerful leaders enjoy the comfort of their local airlines Lufthansa in the case of Merkel and British Airways for May.
It is a national shame that tiny countries like Rwanda and Cameroun have more presence in the air. It is also more than a national disgrace that when Nigerians want to travel, they embark on permutations on how to fly Air Maroc, South Africa Airways, Ethiopian Airlines or Egypt Air.
The biggest shame was recorded at the August 2016 Rio Olympics when the Nigerian contingent arrived in batches like orphans from one of Mother Theresa’s orphanages. In what would go down in Olympic records as the 'Miracle of Brazil,' the Nigerian male soccer team, stranded in Atlanta Georgia, managed to arrive their match venue just five hours to kick–off. And they beat their opponents, Japan 5-4.
Many of our state governors are burning tax payers money hiring and flying jets. There is the case of a particular governor who has a jet handy and spends quite some time in the air while workers in the state air their frustrations frequently through work to rule. These flights cost millions of naira. It does not make sense that a state Chief Executive who says there is no money to pay workers doles out cash to junket in the skies.
On the road, the governors waste more money. A governor’s convoy could include as many as 25 vehicles. These automobiles and the legion that adorn the backyards of Government Houses are fuelled and serviced regularly even if they are not moving.
A governor does not need more than seven vehicles on his convoy. The pilot car, his official car, a back up and maybe, a bus for all the retinue of commissioners and aides, another for the media team, then two others for security especially now that there are threats arising from the under performance of the so called leaders.
Government must do away with the lazy bunch who come in as Assistants and Advisers. A governor has a Commissioner for Health, Special Adviser Health and Special Assistant on Health Matters. There is the Permanent Secretary, Chairman Health Management Board, Chairman State University Teaching Hospital Board and Chairman Task Force on Hospitals.
Some governors have Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Principal Secretary, Chief Of Protocol, Private Secretary and all kinds of personal staff. Most of the time some of these aides only look after the numerous Guest Houses allocated to the governors. It is unbelievable that some states keep as many as 15 Guest Houses for the governors’ use.
Things are not better in the legislature. From the office of the Senate President down to principal officers, so much money is spent on aides. Some of these so called aides may never be seen or known. And many of them may just be aides in name and on paper. They may not receive what the treasury releases.
Government must take a look inwards and begin the change from within. So much money is wasted by the same administration that wants Nigerians to accept the worst. Government is a continuum. If the previous government led us into recession, the new regime must lead us to Paradise as promised. No more excuses.