CSOs Urge President Tinubu and Governors to Cut Costs Amidst Economic Hardship

CSOs Urge President Tinubu and Governors to Cut Costs Amidst Economic Hardship

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Urge President Tinubu and Governors to Cut Convoy and Travel Expenses Amidst Economic Hardship
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are urging President Tinubu and state governors to reduce their convoy and travel expenses to alleviate Nigeria’s economic hardship. This appeal comes as Nigerians struggle to make ends meet amidst the country’s economic challenges ¹.

In a bid to alleviate the country’s economic woes, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have called on President Bola Tinubu and state governors to reduce their convoy and travel expenses. This appeal comes as Nigerians grapple with economic hardship.

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.

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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 quickly on eradicating hunger and creating opportunities for our people to make legitimate living.

The CSOs recommend several measures to address the issue:

• Downsizing Presidential and Gubernatorial Convoys: Reducing the number of vehicles in presidential and gubernatorial convoys to minimize expenses.
• Limiting International Travels: Restricting international travels and delegations to only essential trips.
• Cost-Effective Measures: Adopting cost-effective measures for official engagements, such as video conferencing.

By implementing these measures, the CSOs aim to redirect funds to critical sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure ¹. This call to action highlights the need for leadership by example and fiscal responsibility.

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