Obi also reiterated that Nigeria’s limited resources should be directed towards productive sectors capable of improving the living conditions of citizens.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has recounted how he ensured financial probity as the Anambra State governor through reducing the cost of governance.
He made this known on Monday, while speaking to an audience at an event in Washington, DC, United States.
According to Obi, he was able to cut down on costs by ensuring projects delivered a fair deal and by avoiding unnecessary expenditure on official travel by public officials.
Addressing those at the gathering, the former governor said he rejected inflated budgets for the renovation of his official facilities, adding that projects were completed for significantly less than the amounts originally allocated in the budget.
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He said, “When I was governor, the budget for refurbishing my office was ₦298 million, but I did everything with ₦48 million. There was also a budget of ₦486 million to refurbish my house, but I completed everything with ₦81 million.”
Obi also noted that he ensured the size of delegations travelling with him on official trips was drastically reduced to save costs.
“As a governor, you are supposed to travel with 30 people to several places. Over the years I was governor, I didn’t use 16 per cent of my travel allowance because I wasn’t travelling with anybody. I was the only person invited; nobody invited them,” he added.
The NDC chieftain reiterated that Nigeria’s limited resources should be directed towards productive sectors capable of improving the living conditions of citizens.
