The call for change, which is the hallmark of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has also given birth to the clamour for new ways of running affairs of the federal government and states. Coupled with unprecedented fall in income, recent events in Nigeria have compelled many governors to "cut their cloth" according to what they have. Many of them have adopted series of measures to cut down their expenditures so as to save money for payment of salaries and at the same time execute projects that will ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

Findings by Daily Trust reveal that Kwara, seen as a civil service state, is not left out in taking some of these measures, so as to ensure that monies are channeled appropriately. Unfortunately, the measure has taken its toll on especially politicians that see the election of the governor as payback time for the investment they made during his election this year.

When Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed was inaugurated for the second term in May, he outlined his agenda for the second tenure and appealed to people of the state to be ready for tough times ahead. Ahmed said everybody must make sacrifice for the benefit of the state. The sacrifice, according to the governor, entails contribution to efforts aimed at improving internally generated revenue (IGR) in the state to address competing challenges.

He says that unless the state beefs up its IGR, it will be difficult to come out of the current financial quagmire. The governor reminds the people of the state that money from the federation account is dwindling and may hardly improve in the nearest future. "Since we are not going to benefit from bailout funds of the federal government, the only option we have is to improve our sources of IGR," he enthused. "If we did not look for additional revenue sources and continue to rely on what comes from the federal government, we would not get to the promised land." He recalled that at the beginning of 2011, Kwara State was collecting about N3.2bn as its allocation from the federation.

"But today, we are getting about N1.5 and N1.6bn. So, where is the difference going to come from? The only way is through IGR and cost cutting measures." The special adviser to the governor on media, Dr. Muideen Akorede, said some of the measures put in place include the stoppage of sponsorship of Muslim and Christian pilgrimages to Makkah and Jerusalem, respectively. He said that government believes that religious issues should be a personal affair, adding that the state should not be involved in them. He also says that the government will streamline ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and appointments would be restricted to areas that would impact positively on the lives of the people.

Daily Trust correspondent reports that the issue of trimming political appointments has sent jitters into the hearts of hundreds of politicians, especially those who expect redundant appointment such as special adviser, senior special assistants, special assistant or personal assistant. Though it is not yet clear how many ministries and departments would be merged, the state government has, however, promised that there would be other cost cutting measures.

Apart from some few aides that he has appointed, the governor has not yet constituted his cabinet, with observers saying that the delay is informed by the economic situation. Sources say that the governor does not want to misuse the state's lean economic resources by making elaborate appointments.

The delay, one of the sources says, will allow the governor stabilise salary payment for civil servants and other commitments necessary for running the state. "The governor is trying to address problem of unpaid salaries and fashion out sustainable ways. He intends to get on top of the situation first, then, he will think of appointing commissioners." Akorede says that the cost cutting measures, if well implemented, will make the state become prosperous.

"If the present governor and his deputy decide to cut their salary and finish their tenure in 2019, the next person that becomes governor might not want to cut his salary. And nobody can force him to do so. "But if measures for stopping leakages and unnecessary spending are entrenched in the system, it will become difficult for somebody else to come and change them. That is what the governor is interested in and focuses on achieving."

It was also gathered that the tradition of sharing foodstuffs, other items and rams during festive periods has been stopped in Kwara State. Such items were not distributed during the last fasting and the state government has also started saying that there will be no free rams for the forthcoming Eid el-Kabir Sallah.

However, Chief Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, the chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, says they want the ruling APC in the state to go beyond lip service. He advocates reduction in the number of political appointees and traveling by the governor in chartered flights.

"I know how much a chartered flight would cost and I have multiplied it over a period of eight years. It gave us about N2bn to maintain our governor on air. So, number one, I don't believe they should reduce their salaries only. "Maybe, the president has done it to serve as an example but I would have thought that he would go to the National Assembly with a bill suggesting the reduction, not only in salary, but in the number of political appointees that he, as president and even the governors can appoint."

The chairman, who was a one time commissioner, revealed that during their time, they had only 10 commissioners and two special advisers, lamenting that today, there are about 114 special assistants even as the state remains the same as it was in 1992. He argues that the state's economy has not improved, adding: "So, this thing goes beyond reducing salary, he (governor) has to go further and do what is necessary."

Despite all the measures the government plans to adopt to cut cost, some people in the state doubt if there will be any meaningful changes in terms of development projects. According to them, since the inauguration of the government, its handlers have failed to perform like their counterparts in other states.