May
29, 2015, was a remarkable day for Nigeria; the day most commentators
agree we moved from a fledgling to a fully functioning democracy. The
peaceful transition was a script we all prayed for but feared it might
not happen. In front of the world media, two men of rival political
parties stood on the same platform in a peaceful transition of power as
the incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, witnessed the swearing-in of
his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari. Both men conducted
themselves with grace and exemplary humility as the world celebrated
with Nigeria at the Eagle Square. It was a historic moment to behold and
we thank God for answered prayers.
For President Buhari, it is now time to
deliver. He inherits a depleted treasury and an economy in a free fall
with mounting debts, unpaid salaries, rising unemployment and falling
oil revenue. He inherits a country besieged by insecurity on all fronts,
from kidnapping and pipeline vandalism in the South to communal clashes
and Boko Haram insurgency in the North. These challenges are great but
are by no means insurmountable, as the President alluded in his
inaugural speech. Although the President enjoys unprecedented goodwill
from home and abroad, this could so easily evaporate if Nigerians do not
begin to see a marked change from the past. Like yesterday, Nigerians
need to hear direct from their President his plans for taking us
forward.
There
are quick wins that can be addressed in the first 30 days of this
administration. Top on the list must be the immediate removal of the
current subsidy regime that only benefits residents of Abuja and Lagos.
The removal of fuel subsidy will immediately plug the huge leakage in
government finances and release resources, potentially in excess of
N500bn, for investment in priority areas like security. Unlike in 2012
during the protests, most Nigerians are now convinced that this
colossal fraud on the nation cannot continue a day longer. Subsidies
have contributed to the collapse of our local refineries and the
incessant fuel scarcity in the country. The competition that will ensue
in the forecourt from the removal of subsidies will force the big
operators to invest their own money in refining oil products in Nigeria
without the need for government to invest taxpayers’ money in refineries
as some have ill-advised. In a deregulated market, this would make
great business sense. In addition, the competition that would ensue
amongst oil marketers as a result of the removal of subsidies will drive
down prices to below N100 a litre at the current crude oil prices. It
will be irresponsible for any government to continue to fund this
corrupt subsidy regime.
Most agree that our budgets are mired in
corruption and waste. The government can make quick wins in reducing MDA
budgets for overheads, without any impact on services, by cutting
overheads by at least a half in its supplementary budget proposals to
the National Assembly. Savings can be made in waste and profligacy on
travel, office furniture, and IT equipment that repeat themselves every
year in the budget; purposeless meetings and conferences arranged so
that ministers and senior officials can claim allowances; and many other
excesses that stare one in the face in the detailed budgets of the
MDAs. These excesses are even more lavish in revenue generating agencies
like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Central Bank of
Nigeria, Nigerian Communications Commission, Nigerian Ports Authority,
Federal Inland Revenue Service and Customs. What they do not pay
themselves in outrageous salaries, they take in allowances, with some
boards reportedly awarding their members as much as N10m annually for
medical treatment abroad. The President would need to invite the DGs and
board members of these agencies to Aso Rock, lock the doors and
windows, and read to them the riot act. Public officials need to be
reminded that the revenue they collect does not belong to them and their
families to fly first/business class, but the Nigerian people. There is
the need to review the laws governing the revenue these agencies remit
to government. The current arrangement that leaves so much revenue in
the hands of these agencies to use as they please is scandalous and
irresponsible.
Going forward, we must look again at what
we spend our money on, how we spend it, and where we spend it. We
need to look at the high cost of governance that leaves very little for
vital investment in infrastructure that will create the badly needed
jobs for the youths. We do not need 42 ministries and over 700
parastatals, all duplicating one another’s work; some set up just to
serve individual interests.
The National Assembly must understand the
message from Nigerians that it will no longer be business as usual.
Their oversight function is not a licence to extort money from the MDAs
in order to approve their budgets. The MDAs do not need to give them
anything or cover their costs for carrying out a role they are paid
handsomely to perform anyway. The “new” Economic Financial Crimes
Commission must set an example of members who compromise the budget
process by demanding “back handers” from the MDAs. Although the Eighth
National Assembly showed some goodwill by proposing a 25 per cent
reduction in their budget, this now need to come down further by another
25 per cent in the light of our current challenges. With so much
goodwill on the sails of this government, there is no better time to
scrap the much criticised governors’ security votes and the National
Assembly constituency allowance. The lawmakers have no business digging
boreholes for their constituencies unless they choose to fund this from
their own pockets.
Much have been said about the need to
reform the police and the judiciary but this government will do well to
pay particular attention also to the role played by the
Accountant-General’s Office, Customs and Excise and similar agencies
with inspection, auditing and regulatory responsibilities. The
corruption in these agencies pervades both federal and state
institutions, including schools, where it is believed to be common
practice for public officials to set aside some money for auditors in
order for them to sign off audits and inspection reports. These corrupt
agencies have frustrated policy implementation and the good intentions
of many a government. We need an effective whistle-blowing policy across
the public sector where people can report in confidence suspected
wrongdoing. In the fight against corruption, the role of the National
Orientation Agency is crucial in changing entrenched habits.
The hopes of millions of suffering
Nigerians hang on the promises of this government and that is why the
ongoing discourse on the public disclosure of the President’s assets is a
regrettable distraction. Mr President, your integrity is your biggest
asset and so your promises must count for something.
Nigeria is a great country and with the
right calibre of people and selfless leadership we could be at the verge
of something great. We in the Diaspora congratulate the President on
his inauguration and wish him well.
Comments
Post a Comment
Hello