The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday, condemned the reported approval of a whooping N500million as first installment of a N1billion allegedly approved by President Bola Tinubu for the inauguration of a 37-man Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage as contained in a leaked memo by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
PDP described the said approval of the huge amount for a routine government activity like committee inauguration as the height of profligacy, imprudence and financial recklessness which further validated PDP’s position that the Tinubu-led government was a cesspit of corruption where officials engage in brazen and reckless treasury-looting.
National publicity secretary of PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said it was highly provocative and unpardonable that at the time the nation was suffering acute food shortage, when millions of Nigerians were starving due largely to inadequate investment in food production, insecurity and harsh economic policies of the government, a time when workers were still being owed their January 2024 salaries and other legitimate entitlements, President Tinubu was allegedly spending N1 billion to inaugurate an adhoc committee.
Ologunagba, in a statement, added that it was even more revealing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation allegedly requested for an audacious sum of N1.8 billion for the event which was later scaled down to N1 billion, out of which President Tinubu reportedly directed the SGF to “start with N500 million first”.
“This further shows that the APC administration is insensitive and has no regard for the plight of Nigerians, whom President Tinubu, during his 2024 budget presentation at the National Assembly described as “ordinary people out there.
“Nigerians can now also see how our national treasury and funds meant for their wellbeing are being looted with reckless abandon by officials of the Tinubu-led APC administration.
“This is apparently a tip of the iceberg of how looters in the APC administration are cashing out with public funds under the cover of the Presidency as witnessed in the reported plundering of over N44 billion in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“The PDP calls out the Tinubu Presidency to speak out, come clean and address the nation on this very weighty allegation especially at this time when Nigerians are undergoing excruciating economic hardship.
“Our Party demands that the National Assembly, pursuant to its powers under Section 88 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) immediately commence investigation into this matter which is already agitating the minds of Nigerians across the country,” PDP stated.