Chairman of Northern Governors Forum
and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong says all tiers of Government
in Nigeria must as a matter of urgency cut down on the high cost of Governance
in order to fund critical areas of development that will address challenges of
Nigerians.
Governor Lalong said this while
delivering the 11th Annual Memorial Lecture in honour of late Sir Ahmadu Bello
at the Arewa House, Kaduna.
Governor Lalong whose lecture was
entitled "Reducing the Cost of Governance for Inclusive Growth and Youth
Development in Post COVID-19 Northern Nigeria" said the high cost of
governance has further increased the inability of the governments at all levels
to meet the basic needs of the people.
He said factors such as corruption,
insecurity, large number of Government appointees, high salaries, corruption,
among others are among some of the factors that drive the high cost of
governance in the country. He insisted that this must be addressed immediately
to change the trajectory of growth in Nigeria and the North in
particular.
Lalong said the high cost of
governance has worsened the standard of living in the Northern part of the
country which continues to battle with infrastructure deficit, poverty,
illiteracy, culture of patronage laziness, diseases and insecurity.
He said the Northern Governors Forum
has seriously examined the economic situation in the region and is working in
unison to address the high cost of governance and other obstacles to
development.
Chief of Staff to the President,
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari who represented President Muhammadu Buhari said the
Federal Government has continued to implement various cut-cutting measures to
reduce the cost of governance and free resources for development.
He said so far, the results are
positive and the Federal Government will work with State Governments including
those of the Northern region in adopting measure that will reduce huge spending
and wastages so that funds will be available for development.
Chairman of the occassion, Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu said the discourse is timely as the nation needs to prioritise its
spending and get more resources towards addressing the problems of the common
man.
The Lecture was attended by many
dignitaries from across the country as well as Governors from the northern
region.
Awards were bestowed on six former
Governors of the Northern region who served meritoriouly and founded the Arewa
House. Among them is former Governor of Benue Plateau State, late Joseph
Gomwalk.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public
Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
27th March 2021.
