That GEJ’s Austerity Measures

It was interesting read
ing a newspaper interview with the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr Bright Okogu, who disclosed measures being taken by the Federal Government to cushion the effects of the dwindling economy brought about by the slump in oil price at the international market.
One of the measures, according to the Director General, is a 30 per cent pay cut for all political appointees in the executive arm of government, including the President and Vice President. He said the salary slash as directed by President Jonathan is part of the sacrifice to free up revenue for funding of capital projects.
Making reference to Mr Steve Oronsanya’s Committee on Rationalisation of Federal Government’s Parastatals, Commissions and agencies, Okogu said, “the Federal Government initiated this and has gone through the whole process. The aim is to streamline the activities of these agencies and save government some money and then fund the ones that are left, better. If necessary you can deploy such staff to other areas of government where they are needed, so that you are not laying people off.”
Incidentally, this is not and may not be the last time such austerity measures news would be making newspaper headlines. Recall that in November last year, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had announced that the nation would be experiencing a challenging time owing to the global fall  in oil prices. She  said  adequate measures like payment of tax for luxury goods, reduction in public expenditure and international travels by public servants and others were  already in place to  curtail the impact of the economic downfall on the masses.
Of course, government has to be commended for the claimed efforts in helping  the nation out of  the current economic quagmire.
President Jonathan has no doubt demonstrated leadership by example by his willingness to forfeit part of  his  salary  for the development of the country even though  there are  indications that the President’s good wish may not be realised  as the  Revenue  Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) whose responsibility it is to fix remuneration package  for political, public and  judicial office holders sees no reason  for the pay cut and may thwart the plan.
However, one would like to  believe that the President, the governors and all those in authority can do more than mere pay cut. There is need to block the real waste and drains in our national finances. Every now and then you hear  the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and other multi-national oil companies  raise alarm on the huge amount of money the country loses every day to crude  oil theft.  Just a few days ago,  the Chief of Navel  staff, Rear  Admiral Usman Jibrin said  that the  country  loses  about 100,000  barrel  of crude oil estimated at N1.18bn everyday to oil  thieves who take the advantage of poor law enforcement on the nation’s territorial waters.
Worrisomely, this level of oil theft goes on daily inspite of the security measure NNPC and  other major oil companies claim to have put in place, including the award of surveillance contracts to local community contractors to manage activities near or around their facilities.
It is therefore  logical that if adequate measures are taken  by government oil companies and the Nigerian security agencies to check oil theft in the country, if the vandals  and their  “god fathers” no matter how lightly placed, are constantly arrested and punished accordingly, Nigeria will be saving billions of naira that will be used for developmental projects.
Someone once argued that if agencies are merged but corruption is not tackled, it will be an exercise in futility.
Really, how can money be saved for governance  when those who defraud  the nation are not adequately  punished, when  after stealing  the peoples’ money and abusing Nigeria’s  common resources, the culprits are given state pardon and sometimes even celebrated? How can we claim to be  carrying out austerity measure programmes when  our leaders, their families and relations waste public fund on vain oversea  trips, birthdays and other frivolities.
Sometime, I wonder how healthy Nigerians would be if all  the money spent by our leaders and their families on medical treatment  abroad is used to develop the health sector in the country.
What of Governors, Commissioners and other political office  holders at states and local government levels,  what sacrifices are they making for the nation   at this time of need. Reports have it that the least  federal lawmaker in Nigeria  earns more than the President of the United States of America. Are they ready to cut down on their unmerited huge salaries  and allowances for the country to have more money for development?
So, there should be a wholistic and sincere approach towards  saving the country’s dwindling economy. This is  time to reduce waste and inefficiency. Most importantly, we need to reduce over- dependence on oil sector, develop other sectors and seek ways to generate revenue internally

Calista Ezeaku