The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has promised to reduce government waste and presidential privileges if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Obi said his administration would not prioritise the construction of new guest houses, offices or other facilities for the President, First Lady or government officials where existing government infrastructure could be used.
The former Anambra State governor made the remarks while explaining how he intends to approach leadership, transparency and the management of public resources.
According to Obi, the government should focus on making existing institutions and infrastructure work rather than continuously creating new structures at public expense.
He argued that Nigeria does not need a proliferation of new government buildings when existing facilities can be renovated and put to effective use.
The NDC candidate said his approach would be to reduce unnecessary expenditure and redirect resources towards areas that directly affect Nigerians.
Obi also stressed that, as an elected president, he would take direct responsibility for the administration rather than allowing unelected individuals to operate behind the scenes.
He said the President should remain accountable to the Nigerian people for government decisions and should personally take responsibility for the performance of the administration.
His comments formed part of a broader argument for greater transparency and direct leadership at the federal level.
Obi has repeatedly campaigned on reducing wasteful spending and improving accountability. His 2027 campaign's published transparency commitments include periodic financial reporting, independent auditing and public disclosure of campaign-related financial information.
The presidential hopeful's position on infrastructure also mirrors his recent criticism of the government's emphasis on new projects while existing roads and facilities remain in poor condition.
In June, Obi called on the Federal Government to rehabilitate and maintain existing roads before embarking on new construction projects.
In August, he repeated the argument, saying Nigerians needed functional infrastructure rather than new projects pursued primarily for headlines.
Obi's proposed approach would therefore place greater emphasis on maintenance, rehabilitation and efficient use of infrastructure already owned by government.
He said the same principle should apply to the presidency, arguing against spending public funds on unnecessary extensions or additional facilities for political office holders.
Obi also argued that the President should maintain a physical presence in communities facing serious problems rather than governing exclusively from Abuja.
He said a president should visit areas affected by insecurity, disasters and other crises, engage directly with citizens and understand their problems before making decisions.
In an August campaign address, Obi similarly argued that leaders could not effectively govern communities they were unwilling to visit, listen to and understand.
He has also cited his travels to communities across different parts of Nigeria as evidence of his approach to leadership.
The NDC candidate said his ultimate objective would be to establish a different standard of governance based on accountability, frugality, national unity and direct engagement with citizens.
With the 2027 presidential contest gathering momentum, Obi's promises to reduce government expenditure and change the way the presidency operates are likely to form a significant part of his campaign message.
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