Unlike before where there is duplication of duties, overlapping of ministries work, establishment of Agencies and Parastatals without crystal clear vision and mission, appointment of Special Advisers and Assistants, Personal Assistants and special aides to the Advisers, many state governments had realized the need to reduce the loads of governance which is impinging on the development and growth of the states.

Recently, some states of the federation reduced, merged and streamlined ministries and government agencies to reduce the cost of governance. States like Kaduna, Oyo and Abia had done that. While many states are also in the process of queuing in that direction. Government activities had dwindled in some states due to the financial crisis. Even, there are many states owing their innocent workers salaries which is aggravating their sufferings and also affecting governance.

There is no gainsaying that democracy promotes extravagant spending, misuse of public funds and diversion of public funds to personal purses. The aim of some political appointees is not to serve the public but to acquire wealth and public funds astronomically. This is a sad situation in the country which needs to be addressed, particularly in this era of change.

The change mantra is aimed at correcting the wrongdoings in the system of government, tailoring of resources for development, serving the masses not some individuals or for personal interest, doing the right things in the right direction and at the right time.

Even the change mantra is also expected to spread across the facets of government, particularly in the civil and public services where there are ghost and inactive workers that only collect salaries without justification.

In addition, some local governments are empty as majority of their workforce only go to work at the end of the month to collect salaries and share fringe benefits. This is caused as some of the chairmen that supposed to supervise and monitor, govern from the state capital instead of their respective councils.

The current situation in Nigeria calls for a quick and immediate change that will cut across all the strata of the society. A situation whereby handwork is not celebrated, but praise singing mediocre, ex-convicts, oil thieves, political thieves and jobbers must be stopped. There is need for everyone to get back to the drawing board to make society better.

All the elected officials from the President to the Councillors and political appointees should know that they are not the best to rule or govern, but they are privileged and opportuned to attain the current posts. Hence, the need for them to see the position as temporary not permanent with the aim that they will one day account for all their deeds in office before the creator. The purpose of leadership is to serve, not to acquire public wealth, infringe sufferings on the poor and live a life of a tin god.

Some State Governors need to be commended for cutting their salaries and allowances. This is a lesson to other Governors if they are actually committed to providing people-oriented government.

The era of lavish spending must be stopped. Political appointments should not be based on, party affairs, bias and sentiments, it should be based on credible and hardworking people, technocrats and sounding lieutenants who can display the requisite skills of actualizing the vision and mission of respective governors.

There is need to reposition the civil and public services in all states of the federation. Appointment and promotion should be based on merit. There is the need to appreciate and reckon with hard-work, all civil and public servants, political appointees and even the society must work for the actualization of the desired goals of the current administration at the federal level.

The desire of government to effect the much awaited change in governance would be jettisoned if the government failed to provide all inclusive government. Thus, it is pertinent to call on state governments to block all the loopholes and strengthen their Internally Generated Revenue to reduce their over reliance on Federal Allocations.

Yinka Alaya writes from Ilorin