RMAFC boss backs Tinubu’s move to cut governance costs

Dr. Muhammad Bello, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s initiative to downsize the convoys of ministers and chief executives as an important measure to reduce Nigeria’s governance expenses.

Bello encouraged state governments to implement similar strategies, stressing the importance of efficiency and prudent resource management across all government levels. In a statement released over the weekend, he pointed out that excessive government spending has hindered the nation’s infrastructure progress and social services, leading to high unemployment, decreased investments, and rising insecurity.

“A society can only thrive when it establishes a competent and cost-effective system that optimizes resources for the benefit of all citizens,” he stated.

Reflecting on the RMAFC’s ongoing efforts to advocate for lower governance costs, Bello mentioned that the commission has consistently provided recommendations to the government aimed at cutting unnecessary expenditures and reallocating funds to significant developmental initiatives.

“The current cost of governance is alarmingly high, with Nigeria’s bureaucratic framework burdened by overlapping ministries, departments, and agencies, along with widespread corruption,” he added.

He also noted additional factors contributing to inflated public spending, such as deteriorating infrastructure, security issues stemming from insurgency and kidnapping, ethnoreligious conflicts, multiple salary claims, and substantial domestic and foreign debt.

These challenges, according to him, limit Nigeria’s capacity to invest in critical sectors like healthcare and education, while also hampering industrial growth and infrastructure development.

Highlighting the financial strain on all three branches of government, Bello remarked, “Nigeria’s governance costs rank among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, which puts pressure on government resources and restricts the provision of essential services.”

To tackle these issues, the RMAFC reiterated its call for the implementation of the Oronsaye report, a reduction in political appointees, and enhanced oversight of government spending.