New Update
Former governor of Kano State, Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau, has urged President Tinubu to consider reforming the National Assembly, citing the exorbitant cost of governance as the primary concern. During an interview on Wednesday night, Shekarau expressed his deep concern about the financial burden imposed by the National Assembly, emphasizing its limited contribution in relation to its high maintenance cost.
Shekarau argued that President Tinubu can make significant strides in reducing government expenditure by reassessing the need for the legislative chambers. According to him, the country has pressing issues that require immediate attention, and allocating substantial resources to maintain almost 500 parliamentarians may not be the most effective use of funds.
While affirming his support for the devolution of power ideology, Shekarau stressed the importance of the federal government streamlining its expenses by delegating more responsibilities to state and local governments. By empowering these entities, the burden on the central government can be alleviated, leading to more efficient and cost-effective governance.
Shekarau Advocates for Scrapping Parastatals and Agencies to Curb High Maintenance Costs
Echoing his concerns about the high cost of governance, Shekarau called for a comprehensive review of various parastatals and agencies. He highlighted the urgent need to evaluate the necessity and effectiveness of these entities, as their maintenance expenses continue to strain the country's resources.
The former governor emphasized that previous administrations had fallen short in addressing this issue, leading to a bloated public sector and excessive spending on maintenance. To rectify this, Shekarau proposed a systematic approach to identify and eliminate redundant parastatals and agencies, thereby reducing the financial burden on the government.
By scrapping or merging these entities, Shekarau believes that the government can significantly curtail expenditure, redirecting those resources towards critical sectors that require immediate attention and investment. This approach would not only streamline the bureaucracy but also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations.