Peter Obi Advocates 60% Slash in Governance Costs, Not Just Travel Entourages
By: Emmanuel Ibitoye
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive 60% reduction in the cost of governance, rather than focusing solely on minimizing travel entourages. This statement follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to cut the number of individuals accompanying officials on international and local travels by 60%.
Expressing his views through a statement on his verified X handle, Obi acknowledged the positive step of reducing entourages but argued that it only scratches the surface, resulting in minimal savings. He urged a broader approach, suggesting a simultaneous 60% reduction in federal official overseas trips and the size of delegations.
While commending the reduction in entourage size as a modest step, Obi stressed the need for a more impactful measure—a 60% reduction in the overall cost of governance at the Federal level. He called for a thorough revision of the 2024 budget to eliminate wasteful and unnecessary items.
Obi stated, “This level of cut in the cost of government should lead to substantial savings, used to fund the productive sectors of the economy and much-needed social investments, especially in education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.”
Moreover, he emphasized the importance of transparent communication regarding the actual savings resulting from the entourage reduction and the specific areas where these savings will be allocated.
As calls for cost-cutting resonate in national discourse, Peter Obi advocates for a more comprehensive and impactful approach to governance expenditure reduction, emphasizing the need for transparency in communicating the outcomes of such measures to the public.
