The Nigeria Baptist Conference at the weekend
said the democratic structure currently being
run in the country was too expensive and
needed to be reviewed in order to make funds
available for critical projects that would have
positive impacts on the lives of Nigerians.
The President of the Ondo State Conference of
the Church, Rev John Ayo Oladapo, stated this in
Akure at a news conference to herald the 2013
conference in session that would begin today at
Beulah Baptist Church, Ore, Odigbo Local
Government.
Oladapo said the current structure was being run
at the expense of developmental projects, saying
the salaries of political appointees should be
reduced to actually know who have genuine
mind of serving the people.
He noted that many people are into politics today
due to the huge money being paid to elected
and appointed officers and not because they
have the spirit of service.
Specifically, the clergy said the legislature should
be on part-time basis and that lawmakers should
be on allowance.
Also, Oladapo said the number of aides to
political appointees and elected officers should
be reduced critically so that money being spent
to maintain them can be used for developmental
projects.
“The practice of appointing too many aides
should be stopped. The unending list of aides
should be discontinued. We have too many
Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Senior
Special Assistants and Personal Assistants."
“By the time one calculates the salaries,
allowances and costs of logistics being given to
these appointees many of whom are not doing
anything in the real sense of it, one can see that
a lot of money is
being spent on running of government alone and
at the expense of the
essence of government,” he said.
While congratulating Governor Olusegun Mimiko
for his victory at the Supreme Court, Oladapo
said now that the hurdle of election
litigations had been finally crossed, the governor
should settle down
with more commitment to the goal of delivering
dividends of democracy
to the people irrespective of political divides.
“We also call for cooperation by all and sundry for
the governor to
make steady progress. Let’s put the past behind
and work together to
take Ondo State to greater heights,” he added.
Oladapo said as Nigeria prepares for 2014
centenary celebrations and
the 2015 general election, there should be
modesty in spending.
“Our primary focus should be how an average
Nigerian can receive a
better deal from his or her country through
provisions of capacities
to enhance their lots with a view to standing
them in good stedd for
contributing meaningfully to national
development,” he said.
He also called on the federal government and
agencies concerned to find a lasting solution to
the crisis in the education sector as it
affects the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff
Union of Universities
(ASUU).
Oladapo said there cannot be progress when the
nation’s education was in disarray.

Source: www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigerias-political-structure-too-expensive-says-baptist-conference/157933/