Former Vice President and 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has responded to the House of Representatives’ recent decision to slash their salaries by 50% due to the economic hardship in Nigeria.
Atiku praised the move but emphasized that more comprehensive measures are needed to address the nation’s financial issues.
In a statement posted on his X handle, Atiku said, “The sacrifice of members of the House of Representatives is commendable. But it is a drop in the ocean.”
Atiku pointed out that the real issue lies in the allowances and other non-essential expenditures of lawmakers and government officials, not just their salaries. He questioned the lack of progress on the Oronsaye Report, which recommends merging and reducing the number of government agencies to cut costs.
“The demons are in the allowances and not the salaries of lawmakers and government officials in general. Whatever happened to the much-trumpeted implementation of the Oronsaye Report?” he asked.
Atiku further criticized the increasing number of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and the associated costs, urging for a more significant reduction in government spending.
“Recently, the ballooning of MDAs with the attendant cost implications has been observed. There’s too much wastage and prioritization of non-essential expenditures. What is desirable is an across the board cut in expenses,” he added.
He concluded by stressing the unsustainable nature of borrowing to fund government spending, calling for more responsible fiscal management.
“We can no longer afford to borrow money to fund continued irresponsibility in government,” Atiku stated.
Atiku’s comments come amidst growing concerns over Nigeria’s economic challenges and the need for more effective measures to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainable growth.