The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the reported approval of the sum of N500 million as the first installment of N1 billion allegedly approved by President Bola Tinubu for the inauguration of the 37-man Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage.
The party has now demanded 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 an investigation into this matter, which, according to it, is already agitating the minds of Nigerians across the country.
The main opposition party observed that the approval was reportedly contained in a leaked memo by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
The committee was inaugurated by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of the president on January 30, 2024.
In a statement by Debo Ologunagba on Friday, the 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 validates the PDP’s position that the Tinubu-led government is a cesspit of corruption where officials engage in brazen and reckless treasury looting.”
The party noted: “It is highly provocative and unpardonable that at the time the nation is suffering acute food shortages, when millions of Nigerians are starving due largely to inadequate investment in food production, insecurity, and harsh economic policies of the government, at a time when workers are still being owed their January 2024 salary and other legitimate entitlements, President Tinubu is allegedly spending NI billion to inaugurate a committee.
“It is even more revealing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation allegedly requested 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 called 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.”
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