DISSOLUTION OF BOARDS OF PARASTATALS AND AGENCIES: MERGE DUPLICATED AGENCIES AND COMMISSIONS TO CUT COST OF GOVERNANCE — EMMANUEL ENOIDEM, SAN
January 13, 2024
The former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN, has called on the President of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCON, to cut down the cost of governance by merging agencies and parastatals with overlapping and duplicated functions within the federal government. Enoidem’s call for cutting the cost of governance came after President Tinubu announced the dissolution of boards of some government commissions, parastatals and agencies especially as he begins the process of reconstituting those boards.
Enoidem, a former Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, Special Duties and then Trade, Commerce and Investment in Akwa Ibom state, commended President Tinubu for the recent announcement of a policy to drive down government expenditures, by reducing the number of aides who travel with top government officials by 60%. Enoidem reasons that the cut in the travelling costs is an eloquent acknowledgement that there is a dying and compelling need to reduce the cost of governance which is extremely bloated. However, he argued that such reforms should not just be mere lip service to excite the people but should be implemented, institutionalized and deepened.
The learned silk pointed out that several agencies, departments, parastatals and commissions within the federal bureaucracy are wasteful duplications which should either be merged or scrapped for efficiency, effectiveness and improved performance. Given our peculiar economic circumstances cutting the cost of governance should be given a premium far higher than any political consideration or political patronage. This is so because a stability of the economy will benefit Nigeria and Nigerians.
“For example, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) should all be merged to avoid duplicity and ultimately cut down on cost” Emanuel Enoidem argued.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria further said: “at a time like this when Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the world; when we have the highest number of out-of-school children; when insecurity is ravaging the country, when unemployment is peaking, when hardships have become the order of the day and the economy is almost totally comatose, it is imperative for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cut unnecessary expenditures and channel such funds into areas that need urgent attention and funding”.
“The President must, as a matter of urgency, take governance seriously by blocking every leakage and putting every Naira to judicious and efficient use. Given the level of corruption/kleptomania in the early part of the government, the TSA policy must be revisited as a matter of priority and urgency” Enoidem concluded.
