Buhari Should Cut Cost Of Governance, Not Only Salaries Says Rev. Sam Tumba

  

                          Rev.Sam Tumba                                              Buhari

Reverend Father Sam Tumba, the parish priest of St. Donald Catholic Church in Karu, Abuja in an interview with Saturday   Vanguard, on his 25th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination says reducing cost of governance will help Nigeria and not only cutting salaries.

You just celebrated your 25th anniversary. How has it been so far in the priesthood?

So far so good. There have been moments of challenges, moments of excitement but above all we give God the glory.


What are these challenges you talked about?

In every work, challenges shouldn’t necessarily be seen in the area of failure or not been able to accomplish. Whatever you are doing you come across situations that you are overwhelmed and I think that my challenges will not be different from any other person’s but to be precise challenges of trying to understand the different people you come across, challenges of trying to appreciate people for what and whom they are, challenges of trying to see how you can integrate your work with people’s beliefs about life.

So challenges come in different ways, in different times and different environments but you realize that they are not things that should discourage one from doing his or her work.

So what advice do you have for younger priest?

Younger priest must be committed to their work. We are called to service. We are called to faithfulness. All we need to do is to be committed to what we are doing because our call is like a gift from God and we must appreciate this gift from God by doing exactly what we are called to do.
Let me take you to politics. Nigeria has new government. How do you assess the new administration?

It is too early to start assessing the government. There are few things we can commend the government for so far. They are bailing out states that have not been able to pay salries of workers. But security remains a big problem. They have to meet the expectations of the people but it is still early to begin to judge them.

The Chibok girls are yet to be rescued. Your words on this?

A few things have been politicised. The international communities expressed outrage but they have not helped. I will suggest that the government continues to request for help from big nations.
Since inauguration on May 29, ministers are yet to be appointed.

 Are you comfortable with the delay?

Government is already getting into two months. The only thing that seems to dominate the media is the crises in the national assembly. The earlier we are able to stabilise the better for our people otherwise the government that appears to be on a rescue mission will lose the confidence of the people.

If you were given the opportunity to advise the government on issues. Which area will you harp on?

The cost of running our presidential system of government is high. People are talking about cutting salaries. That is not the issue. What about the allowances that the same people are acquiring for themselves? So we must cut cost because if we don’t cut cost we will soon find ourselves in a kind of situation Greece is in now.






Source: Vanguard