President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for transparency, accountability and the elimination of unnecessary expenditures to cut the cost of governance in the country.

Mr Akpabio made the call on Monday at a one-day dialogue on the cost of governance in Nigeria organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja.

Represented by Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Rivers), Mr Akpabio highlighted the possible factors contributing to the high cost of governance in the country.

According to him, the size of our bureaucracy, the escalating public service wage bills, the overhead costs of appointive public officials, and the salaries and allowances of elected officials are major factors.

He said that the running of government institutions, among other substantial components, contributed to weighing down the economy and hindering development efforts.

“Let us hold ourselves accountable and take responsibility for the betterment of our nation.

“We have to ensure that our government operates efficiently and effectively, serving the needs of the people and fostering sustainable development.

The president of the senate emphasised the need to streamline bureaucracy, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and ensure transparency and accountability at all levels of governance.

“We must invest in our human capital, empowering our public officials with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive progress.

“And we must foster a culture of innovation and creativity, where new ideas can flourish and transform our nation,” he said.

Mr Akpabio urged all Nigerians to remain united, become agents of change and be committed to making sacrifices for the nation.

He said that the 10th Assembly was ready to partner with all stakeholders to do everything within its constitutional powers to make Nigeria available to all citizens.

In his remarks, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said that the call for a reduction in government spending resonated loudly across the nation and that it was incumbent upon leaders to respond.

According to him, we must adopt measures that streamline our expenditures in line with the prevailing economic realities.

“Nigeria has long grappled with budget deficits, further emphasising the necessity to streamline government operational costs and foster budgetary stability.

“This requires a concerted effort to eliminate wasteful, inefficient and unnecessary expenses from our budgetary allocations,” he said.

Earlier, the director-general of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, said that the efficiency and accountability of governance directly impacted the prosperity and well-being of the nation.

He said that the dialogue provided an opportunity to holistically re-evaluate the approach to governance and the viability of the parliamentary system as a cost-effective alternative to the current presidential system of government.

“The overall aim of the dialogue is to collectively chart a path towards fiscal prudence, transparency, and accountability that encapsulates stakeholder perceptions drawn from across civil society.

“These will constitute a part of the overarching governance roadmap and interventions of the current administration under President Bola Tinubu, who has shown an unyielding commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Oronsaye Report and reducing the cost of governance.

“The solutions lie within our zeal to enact change and to work towards a future where the cost of governance is not a burden but an investment in the prosperity of every Nigerian,” he said. 

(NAN)