ACN urges Jonathan to cut cost of governance

LAGOS -  The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday, challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to lead by example in cutting the high cost of governance, which is eating deep into the country’s resources and leaving little or nothing for developmental projects.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the President had so far sent out conflicting signals over this issue, and urged him to be consistent and firm.

Mohammed said: “In one breath, President Jonathan is giving an impression that he wants to run a lean and effective government by asking his ministers to drastically cut the number of their aides to two, as widely reported in the media and so far unrefuted.

“In another, the same President has raised the cost of governance by appointing a retinue of personal aides and at least 40 ministers, even when the constitution prescribes one minister per state which should have pegged the total number at 36, creating additional ministries when he could have streamlined the existing ones, and by also asking for higher pay for some of his aides.

“A President who is seeking higher pay for his aides and creating additional ministries can definitely not have the moral authority to lead the ongoing campaign to get federal lawmakers to slash their jumbo pay in the interest of the country.”