Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has called for a drastic reduction in the cost of governance in Nigeria, highlighting the nation’s financial struggles while criticizing the extravagant lifestyles of government officials. Speaking at The Platform, an event organized by The Covenant Nation to mark Democracy Day, Soludo emphasized that the country is broke, and the ruling class’s opulence is at the expense of the masses.
Soludo proposed that political officeholders should be placed on the national minimum wage as a symbolic gesture to align with the economic realities faced by ordinary Nigerians. He shared that he has not taken a salary since assuming office and donated it to the state, underscoring the need for officials to lead by example and exhibit financial restraint.
The governor urged an end to wasteful spending in governance, stressing the importance of elected officials remembering their public trust. He noted that government revenues are insufficient to meet the needs of the population, with federal and state revenues per citizen being alarmingly low. Soludo called for a renewed code of conduct for public officers, emphasizing the need for conscious spending and accountability to prevent societal decay.