In response to the Nigerian government’s recent decision to cut down on the size of official entourages for international and local travel by 60%, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has emphasized the need for a more comprehensive approach to cost-cutting in governance.
The former Anambra State governor expressed his views through a statement on his verified X handle on Wednesday.
The move to reduce entourages was announced by the presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, as part of the administration’s efforts to implement cost-cutting measures. This decision will impact the entourages accompanying the President, Vice-President, First Lady, ministers, and heads of government agencies.
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However, Peter Obi believes that this measure “is just scratching the surface” and will result in only a negligible saving. He contends that the focus should be on a 60% reduction in both the number of official overseas trips and the size of delegations. Furthermore, Obi stresses the need for a broader 60% reduction in the total cost of governance at the federal level.
In his statement, Obi asserted, “The just announced 60% cut in the size of federal official entourages on travels is one positive step towards the reduction of cost of governance and a way of halting wastage.
“But this measure is just scratching the surface as it is limited in scope and can only lead to a very negligible saving. We are yet to be told how much savings this will amount to.
“While this modest step may be somewhat commendable, what is desirable should be both a 60% reduction in federal official overseas trips as well as a 60% reduction in the size of delegations.”
Highlighting the economic impact of such measures, Obi emphasized the need to revise the 2024 budget to eliminate wasteful and unnecessary items. He argued that arbitrary cuts in entourages are insufficient without addressing the larger issue of overall government expenditure.
“This is the level of cost-cutting and savings that can meaningfully impact the present state of the economy. This level of cut in the cost of government should lead to substantial savings,” Obi stated. He urged that the resulting savings should be redirected towards funding the productive sectors of the economy and critical social investments, particularly in education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.
Moreover, the two-term former Anambra State governor called for transparency in communicating the financial implications of the reduced entourage sizes. He stated, “It is not enough to announce arbitrary cuts in the size of federal official entourages. The nation needs to be informed of how much the measure will save and where such savings will be applied.”
While acknowledging the positive step taken by the government in cutting entourages, Obi’s response points to the urgency for more comprehensive and impactful measures to address the economic challenges facing the country.
“Most importantly, it is not enough to announce arbitrary cuts in the size of federal official entourages. The nation needs to be informed of how much the measure will save and where such savings will be applied,” he said.