Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman of North-West in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has advocated for a substantial increase in the party’s annual budget to enhance its operational efficiency.
Addressing the Dr Abdullahi Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, Lukman emphasised raising the party’s annual budget to N100 billion to ensure optimal functioning and reduce dependence on elected officials for funding.
In his statement titled “Wither Nigerian Democracy: Urgency of Rebuilding Political Parties,” Lukman outlined the importance of implementing strategic reforms within the APC’s structure.
He urged the party leadership to prioritise financial autonomy by establishing a robust national budget that covers the operations of all party organs at various levels, from the national to the grassroots.
He said, “For party organs to be made functional, the issue of party funding must be resolved beyond the current reality of dependence on elected representatives.
The new leadership must be challenged to produce a national annual budget and NEC must consider all avenues of party funding and empower the new NWC to take every needed appropriate step to mobilise financial resources.
“There is no reason why APC, being the ruling party, cannot operate a national annual budget of over N100bn. Note that the national yearly budget should cover the operations of all party organs, from national to states, local government and wards.
“It is only when a ruling party can operate a national budget of more than N100bn that the condition of service for party leaders at all levels can be benchmarked with public service conditions.
“But as long as the conditions of service for party leaders are below that of public service, party leaders will continue to subordinate themselves to elected leaders, and the capacity to hold elected representatives accountable to the party will be weak.
“It is my wish that APC leaders, especially President Asiwaju Tinubu will consider these proposals in responding to challenges facing the APC.
“Achieving this when the next general election is more than three years away, would confer stronger electoral advantages to the APC. For other parties, to effectively compete against the APC, they will need to be equally reformists and not conformist.”
