By Chukwudi Nweje
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), yesterday, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard the Nigerian Governors’ Forum’s proposal to the Federal Government to offer civil servants above 50 years a one-off retirement package to exit the service as a way to reduce the cost of governance.
It said the NGF’s proposal is deceitful and mirrors a lack of readiness by all levels of government to holistically address the contending issues back-pedalling country’s socio-economic development.
In a statement, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani, said compulsory retirement of workers over 50 years of age rather than reduce the cost of governance would amplify existing socio-economic burden, suffering and inequalities among common Nigerians.
“We received the proposed measure to reducing cost of governance as a deceitful approach that may amplify existing socio-economic burden, suffering and inequalities among common Nigerians. We cannot conceal the fact that it mirrors lop-sidedness, insincerity, and lack of readiness by all levels of government to holistically address the contending issues back-pedalling country’s socio-economic development.
“On this note, we reiterate the issues that aggravate high cost of governance and socio-economic inequalities in Nigeria include poor transparency and accountability, paving way for the inherent incompetence and abuse of public funds amounting to trillions of naira by successive administrations at all levels.
“We maintain our advocacy against unjustified numerous jumbo salaries, allowances, benefits, and public paid expenses enjoyed by the governors, their deputies, former speakers, and their deputies throughout and after their tenures. This includes the states that erected private buildings as retirement packages for the public office holders as well as former governors who enjoy double payments from senatorial positions.”
According to the organisation, rather than retiring workers, President Buhari should take appreciable and drastic step to reduce the cost of governance through targeted efforts to addressing institutionalised mismanagement, systemic embezzlement, inflated budget, procurement corruption, revenue loopholes, among others, to allow adequate resource allocation to finance critical sector and eradicate poverty at all levels.
It demanded strict compliance to remuneration provisions prescribed by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in all remunerations and entitlements by the governments, at all levels, to prevent continued diversion of public revenue resources into private pockets.
Rafsanjani said thorough scrutiny of the budgets of the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) will address issues of inflated budget lines, duplications, and unnecessary items, even as he urged the National Assembly to strengthen oversight activities on budgetary implementation to prevent or sanction poor implementation, mismanagement, and non-existent projects.
He called on the executive and legislative arms of government to in spirit of open government partnership, improve fiscal transparency, integrity, transparency, and accountability in defence spending, to block mismanagement and wastage, while enabling adequate budgetary allocation to other sectors.
He said a full implementation of The Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022; and Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022, will go a long way to strengthen the anti-corruption fight, sanction treasury looters and ensure repatriated assets are utilised for the benefits of Nigerians.