Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun has explained that the Nigerian government has saved over N100 billion on travel and transport and on office stationeries in two years.
Adeosun explained that the savings was initiated through the creation of the Efficiency Unit (E-Unit), set up in November 2015, six months after President Buhari was sworn-in and about two weeks after Adeosun assumed office as Finance Minister.
She explained that the Unit was established to reduce wastages, promote efficiency, ensure prudence and add value for money in all government expenditures.
Adeosun explained that the Unit has been thorough in conducting its activities by monitoring the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, identifying and eliminating wasteful spending, duplication and other inefficiencies and identifying best practices in procurement and financial management has so far resulted in an annual savings for the Federal Government.
“The E-Unit has embarked on several cost cutting initiatives that has influenced the issuance of circulars to all MDAs by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission,” she said.
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Adeosun added that “The issuance of these circulars has led to curtailed and better management of certain recurring processes and activities relating to travels, sitting allowances, souvenirs, and others resulting in savings.
“The Government has saved thirty-four bllion naira (N34 billion) on Travel & Transport for 2016 compared to 2015 figures and a further fifty-seven billion naira (N57 billion) on same Travel & Transport in 2017 compared to 2016.
“Again, on Office Stationeries & Computer Consumables, the government saved twenty four billion naira (N24 billion) in 2016 as against the previous year and a further ten billion naira (N10 billion) in 2017 compared to 2016 Expenditure on the same Line Item.
She noted that the E-Unit has recommended to the Accountant General of the Federation the use of Debit Cards by government officials for payments instead of cash. “This would plug loopholes and improve accountability in spending,” she said.
Adeosun said the in procurement, the E-Unit has initiated some measures to improve the subsisting procurement process to generate savings using the government’s large purchasing power, improve transparency in the procurement process, and reduce the administrative costs associated with the procurement process.
