DIRECTIVE TO CUT COSTS: Lead by example, end wastefulness in presidency, PDP tells Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to lead by example by ending alleged wastefulness of resources that pervades his Presidency.

The party said if Buhari ended the profligacy allegedly encompassing the presidency, this would give validity to his directives on cost cut to ministers and other functionaries.

In the same vein, the PDP tasked the Buhari Presidency to explain the basis and source of presidential support for the office of the First Lady, including the appointment of aides, contrary to his promise not to run that office.

The party stated this in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday, adding that “Mr President remains responsible and answerable for his presidential assurances and Nigerians expect an explanation on the violation of such sensitive undertaking.”

Buhari had in a bid to save costs, approved last Wednesday, measures aimed at instilling financial discipline and prudence, particularly, in the area of official travels.

He had slashed estacode for ministers and top government officials and directed that they must henceforth, submit their yearly travel plans for statutory meetings and engagements to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and/or the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation for express clearance within the first quarter of the fiscal year, before implementation.

But the PDP, responding to the directive said, while it was still monitoring the implementation of directive to government functionaries on cost cut, that President Buhari should take the first step by immediately fulfilling his promise to reduce the presidential fleet, as well as cut his “over bloated entourages and curtail the opulent lifestyle in the presidency, which is daily flaunted before suffering and impoverished Nigerians.”

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It said that Nigerians should note that the “Buhari Presidency has proven to be extremely expensive and a major draining pipe for valuable resources, while millions of compatriots, who look up to government for solutions, wallow in hunger and acute poverty.

“The profligacy that permeates the Buhari Presidency had further manifested in the public fight between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and President Buhari’s nephews over issues of opulent accommodation in our presidential villa.”

The party further urged Nigerians to note that the Buhari Presidency has failed to make the details of its budget public, despite demands by the opposition party and other well-meaning groups in Nigeria.

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