(THIS DAY) The Nigeria Baptist Conference at the weekend said the democratic structure currently being run in the country was too expensive and needed to be reviewed in order to make funds available for critical projects that would have positive impacts on the lives of Nigerians.
The President of the Ondo State Conference of the Church, Rev John Ayo Oladapo, stated this in Akure at a news conference to herald the 2013 conference in session that would begin today at Beulah Baptist Church, Ore, Odigbo Local Government.
Oladapo said the current structure was being run at the expense of developmental projects, saying the salaries of political appointees should be reduced to actually know who have genuine mind of serving the people. He noted that many people are into politics today due to the huge money being paid to elected and appointed officers and not because they have the spirit of service.
Specifically, the clergy said the legislature should be on part-time basis and that lawmakers should be on allowance. Also, Oladapo said the number of aides to political appointees and elected officers should be reduced critically so that money being spent to maintain them can be used for developmental projects.
“The practice of appointing too many aides should be stopped. The unending list of aides should be discontinued. We have too many Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants and Personal Assistants.” “By the time one calculates the salaries, allowances and costs of logistics being given to these appointees many of whom are not doing anything in the real sense of it, one can see that a lot of money is being spent on running of government alone and at the expense of the essence of government,” he said.
While congratulating Governor Olusegun Mimiko for his victory at the Supreme Court, Oladapo said now that the hurdle of election litigations had been finally crossed, the governor should settle down with more commitment to the goal of delivering dividends of democracy to the people irrespective of political divides. “We also call for cooperation by all and sundry for the governor to make steady progress. Let’s put the past behind and work together to take Ondo State to greater heights,” he added.
Oladapo said as Nigeria prepares for 2014 centenary celebrations and the 2015 general election, there should be modesty in spending.
“Our primary focus should be how an average Nigerian can receive a better deal from his or her country through provisions of capacities to enhance their lots with a view to standing them in good stedd for contributing meaningfully to national development,” he said. He also called on the federal government and agencies concerned to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the education sector as it affects the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Oladapo said there cannot be progress when the nation’s education was in disarray.
