The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has counseled ministers and presidential aides not to turn themselves into praise singers, as the government of Nigeria is bogged down by sycophancy and lack of honesty in governance.
Addressing the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference and Book Launch in Abuja on Tuesday, Sanusi II stated that most government officials want to be flattered, not told the truth, and as such, leaders do not get honest advice.
Our leaders only hear those who say what they want to hear. Nigeria has too many sycophants in government. Those who say the truth are being made enemies of the state,” the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor lamented.
He criticized the culture of excessive flattery in official meetings, so much that it “disgraces the office and the man.” True public service, he stated, calls for integrity, courage, and telling truth to power.
Moving to economic issues, Sanusi II commended the Tinubu administration for the subsidy removal on fuel and the unification of exchange rates, describing the measures as “painful but necessary.” However, he warned that the reforms would be ineffective in the absence of fiscal discipline and accountability in the expenditure of savings.
“If you remove subsidy payment but continue borrowing, then you have filled one hole by opening another,” he stated, noting that Nigeria’s fiscal crisis is due to years of policy inconsistency and wasteful government.
Sanusi also questioned the size of the federal cabinet and government wastage, and posed the question: “Do we need 48 ministers and convoys of long vehicles? We cannot be calling on the people to make sacrifices when we are living in luxury.”
Atedo Peterside, founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank, shared the same sentiments as Sanusi in his speech, calling on the government to invest savings from subsidy elimination on the welfare of citizens.
“Pain does not necessarily yield gain. Gain only comes after pain if the government is spending wisely and cushioning the poor,” Peterside stated.
The conference brought together economists, policymakers, and thought leaders to talk about reforms towards Nigeria’s sustainable recovery and ethical governance.
