Oransaye Report, Jet Sale: President Tinubu is Making the Right Noise on Cutting the Cost of Governance

Nigeria’s presidential fleet is set to be depleted by three jets, following reports of a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for them to be sold over concerns about maintenance costs. The move is the latest signal of his determination to trim the cost of governance in a country where the ruling class, representing a fraction of a surging population, has faced longstanding criticism about the disproportionate share of its declining resources devoted to its welfare.

Inside sources claim that the maintenance of the jets costs the government several millions, a situation the president is uncomfortable with, especially at a time when the country is facing serious revenue challenges. Although it’s not the first time the idea of trimming the number of presidential jets has been mooted, President Tinubu’s knack for hard reforms convinces many that he will proceed with the plan.

Already, he has brought Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio to the lowest in four years at 66.9% in 2023, compared to 99.3 percent in the previous year. The removal of fuel subsidy and unification of all segments of the foreign exchange market have been credited with increasing government revenue inflows, allowing it to allocate more funds for capital projects, including infrastructure required to stimulate economic growth.

President Tinubu appears keen on building on that success with the resolve to implement the Oronsaye Report, which recommends the scrap/merger of government agencies and streamlining of processes to reduce costs and enhance efficiency.

He has also imposed a three-month ban on publicly-funded foreign trips by officials of the federal government, according to a statement from the presidency.

“Under this ban, government officials will only be permitted to travel abroad if it is deemed essential, subject to President Tinubu’s approval at least two weeks in advance. The objective is to ensure officials prioritize their core responsibilities for effective service delivery,” the statement, signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff, said.

The ban was in response to the backlash that trailed the large retinue that attended the COP 28 climate change event in Dubai, although subsequent checks revealed that some parties believed to be part of the government entourage were sponsored by private organizations.

To succeed in his efforts to prune government expenses and cut red tape, President Tinubu is expected to combat a civil service that has grown to see the public service as a self-serving venture and a political class that sees power acquisition as a way into the nation’s treasury.