PDP Chieftain: High Cost of Governance Should be Addressed

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A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Lola Ashiru, has urged delegates to the National Conference to have a rethink over the high cost of governance in the presidential system of government in Nigeria.

Ashiru stated this in Offa, the headquarters of Offa Local Government Area of the state while speaking with journalists, saying: "The presidential system of government in Nigeria is too expensive in view of the present economic situations facing the country."

According to him, “The present Nigerian government is costly considering the number of the states and 774 local government councils.

I don't think there is a need for more states as being canvassed in some quarters because Nigeria has big states and it is very expensive to maintain, so why calling for more creation of states now?”

He added that: “The presidential system of government is expensive, cumbersome and unfortunate, and a direct importation of the American system of government but we don't have the same standard of economy.

"If I have my way, I would want to shrink the system because the money we are spending is too much. So, to now say we should have additional states is not reasonable."

While stating further that the ongoing National Conference is good development, Ashiru said: "As a nation, we need to come together and deliberate on what can move the country forward.

"Nigeria is a big country with divergent ethnic nationalities and with this ongoing conference, opportunities would be provided to update our constitution and fashioning out more positive way to move the country forward."