The presidency has on Friday confirmed the downsizing of political appointments in the office of Nigeria’s vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. According to a press statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu, the reduction exercise was in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to cut down multiple authorities and reduce the cost of administration.
The reduction of political appointees in the office of the Nigerian vice president, Yemi Osinbajo was a response to the general perception that the Presidency has an oversized and bloated workforce which acts as a drag on efficiency. The press statement by Garba Shehu in full:
BUHARI, OSINBAJO WILL, TOGETHER, SCRIPT A GLORIOUS FUTURE FOR NIGERIA
The Presidency wishes to confirm that there is, on-going, an unprecedented overhaul of the nation’s seat of government, arising from which a number of political appointments have either been revoked or not renewed in the Second Term. The exercise, which has been ordered by the President, is to streamline decision-making, cut down multiple authorities and reduce the cost of administration.
It is also an appropriate response to the general perception that the Presidency has an oversized and bloated workforce which acts as a drag on efficiency. As may have been noticed by discerning members of the public, a number of political appointees among the few that served in the office of the President were not returned for the Second Term.
The office of the Vice President, His Excellency Yemi Osinbajo has, in compliance with the directive of the President, equally been shed of a number of such appointees.
In carrying out these exercises, the overriding objective is to save taxpayer money and deliver needed service to the public. As far as the President is concerned, there is no scope for an excuse for administration after getting a huge mandate to run the country for four more years.
In the light of this, the Presidency wishes to strongly deny rumours of a rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The relationship between the two leaders remains excellent and trusting. Together, they will script a glorious future for the nation.
