Recently, a video clip of Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema, rejecting a proposal to buy cars worth $1.8 million for his entourage, after he won the election in August 2021,  trended on the social media. In the short video, the president was seen questioning the rationale behind the purchase of pricey vehicles for political office holders when there are other important needs of the people to be addressed with such a huge amount. “Why are you using money to buy a VX for the Mayor? Why do you want a car costing $200,000?  That VX for the Mayor can put toilets in all the markets in your constituency. A Mayor can still drive a nice car but it does not have to be a VX …, whose money are you using? he asked. Back here in Nigeria, the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, a few days ago declared that he will not collect his salary for the next four years. “The speaker reminded me that I have not taken a salary for four months, and I will not take it for four years. I have only one wife and three children, and we can take care of ourselves”, he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, in the face of the current economic hardship in the country, when citizens are finding it difficult to survive on a daily meal, some people are milking the country dry just because they were fortunate to have been elected to represent the people at the national assembly. If they are not receiving “tokens” in their bank accounts to enjoy unearned vacations while other Nigerians are struggling to survive, they are being given brand new 2023 Land Cruiser SUVs said to be valued at N160 million to N200 million each, procured with foreign loans or enjoying other largesse. The spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, was quick to tell newsmen that the vehicles soon to be distributed to the 360 members are official vehicles and not for personal use and that they are assigned to members during their tenure and must be returned after their term ends. As if all of us are not in Nigeria and know not what happens to such vehicles at the end of the day.
It is also not peculiar to the Legislature, as unelected government officials in the Executive arm of government from the Assistant Director level and above, in most cases, have official vehicles attached to their office.”
That may not be far from the truth. Certain things are still being done in the country as if we are still in the oil boom days when we know that the nation’s purse is very lean and that the nation’s debt profile has been on a steady rise in recent years. What is most difficult to understand is the economic sense in the government’s penchant for securing foreign loans to be used to maintain such opulent lifestyles and to be shared to some citizens to feed. It is no news that the Federal Government recently approached the World Bank for a fresh loan of $400 million for the conditional cash transfer to 15 million households as one of the measures to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians. The government had earlier borrowed $800 million from the same source for the same purpose. That is, a $1.2 billion loan within five months in office.
At the launch of the “Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer” for 15 million vulnerable Nigerian households on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, said it was in fulfilment of his Independence Day broadcast to Nigerians on October 1, where he announced the cash transfer programme which would target vulnerable citizens. The question now  is, how can you alleviate poverty and suffering in the land by taking foreign loans to share to the citizens to feed – N75,000 in three months? What can N25,000 do for a household in the present-day Nigeria and what happens to these families after the stipulated three months? What are the criteria in selecting the 15 million households and what is the assurance that the money will get to them at the end of the day? It is high time Nigerian leaders came down from their high horses and face the challenges in the country sincerely and committedly.
They must start by cutting the over bloated cost of governance and showing leadership by example through moderate expenditure of the taxpayers’ money like Hichilema. A good number of the federal legislators have been in the corridors of power either as governors, deputy governors, ministers, law makers, heads of agencies and what have you. So, they can afford to toe Governor Otti’s line by foregoing certain pleasures and acquisitions for the benefit of the poor people who elected them. This goes across party lines. Reducing the cost of governance is a crucial step in improving economic efficiency and freeing up resources for developmental projects in the country. The government must assess and possibly reduce the salaries and allowances of public officials, including political officeholders, to align them with economic realities.
Of course, this goes with the consolidation of Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Instead of appointing 50 ministers and numerous personal assistants, advisers with their own legion of assistants, the government was expected to have  merged or consolidated overlapping ministries, departments, and agencies to eliminate duplication of functions. Government structures should have been  streamlined to make them more efficient as recommended in Steve Oronsaye’s report. People have always said that those in authority know what to do to make Nigeria better and that is the truth. The president boasts of having prepared for the office for over thirty years. And within these years he had held several key positions both in the public and private sectors. He is said to be one of the richest persons in Nigeria.Can he then keep his selfish interest, tribal, political and other sentiments behind and give the country the much-needed leadership?
Can the government be deliberate and committed towards enforcing fiscal responsibility laws and hold public officials accountable for financial mismanagement and also implement measures to curb corruption and ensure that public funds are used judiciously? New heads of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have just been appointed by Tinubu. Will they be given the freedom to carry out their duties unbiasedly or will they be required to do the bidding of the person who put them in those positions and that of the ruling political party, thereby being selective as was seen in the past?  Practical steps towards poverty alleviation in the country are needed. Government should encourage the growth of industries and small businesses to create more job opportunities; bring the nation’s refineries back to life and possibly build new ones; support entrepreneurship through training, access to credit, and business development services; fight insecurity so that people can go back to their farms and ensure adequate food production for the country.
Nigerians have seen and appreciated Tinubu’s 8-Point Agenda which encompass critical areas like food security, ending poverty, economic growth, job creation, access to capital, improved security, a fair playing field, rule of law, and the fight against corruption but people want to urgent see these agenda reflect on the quality of lives of the citizens. As an analyst said, the time for campaign is over, let there be more actions than words. Let the leaders compliment the sacrifices of the masses towards making Nigeria great again.

By:  Calista Ezeaku