*Says Incumbent Govt Reckless With Country’s Funds

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Saturday, carpeted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the bloated structure of his about-to-be sworn in cabinet, saying that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is reckless with taxpayers’ monies.

Speaking at a press briefing held in Abuja, HURIWA, through its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that 48 ministers are way too much for any government that is serious about cutting the cost of governance and the removal of petrol subsidy.

Onwubiko agreed with media reports that 48 ministerial nominees whose names were forwarded to the Senate by Tinubu for clearance, and about 560 commissioners-designates in the states where elections were held this year may cost the country over N23 billion in salary bills monthly.

The figure was based on the recommended salaries and allowances for ministers and commissioners by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission.
Onwubiko decried that President Tinubu has set the record for the highest number of ministerial nominees in Nigeria since 1999.

“The bloated list of ministers by Tinubu speaks of his insensitivity towards forming a lean and inexpensive government in a time of austerity staring millions of Nigerians in their faces.

“For a government that removed subsidy on petrol with pump prices jumping from N184 per litre to over N600 and failed to provide quick palliatives to succour the pain of Nigerians going through hardship, a bloated cabinet is hypocritical and insensitive to the feelings of the Nigerian people”, he said.