The Osun Masterminds, or TOM, is a coalition of civil society organisations in Osun State that has asked President Bola Tinubu to lower travel costs as well, arguing that cutting the number of ministerial convoys is insufficient to lower the cost of governance.

In an effort to lower the cost of governance and assist Nigerians in overcoming their current adversity, the organisation also urged governors nationwide to cut back on travel expenditures.

According to a statement released by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, the President’s directive to Ministers to decrease their convoys to three cars should lower travel expenses in addition to the cost of government.

“We urge all public office holders to be more empathetic towards the people by reducing unnecessary expenses, which are frequently characterised by needless and avoidable travels, especially in the offices of the President, Vice President, and state governors,” Oyedokun-Alli stated.

There are other ways to reduce the expense of government besides reducing the number of official cars. At the price of the people’s hunger, the political elite cannot be fed fat.

Additionally, the organisation asked Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to use the additional federal funding to improve people’s quality of life in order to address the current suffering.

According to him, it is quite troubling that the State Governments, who are now receiving larger Federal appropriations, are not doing much to improve the lives of their citizens while the Federal Government is doing little to lessen suffering. Here in Osun, we are occupied with building flyovers and debating absurdities rather than adopting strategies for faster human growth.

Nigerians and Osun people should be able to live better lives than the ones they are now facing. It is our people’s right to be content and to live in a society that supports their goals and aspirations.

The Federal Government and, more significantly, the Osun State Government are once again being urged to step up their efforts immediately to lift the populace out of the bonds of poverty. To end hunger and provide our people with opportunity to earn a living, we must act swiftly.