In a striking revelation, the Federal Government has reportedly expended approximately N701 million to finance the foreign travels of First Lady Remi Tinubu across five countries within a mere three-month period. This figure was confirmed by Saturday PUNCH and raises concerns about fiscal responsibility and prioritization of public funds.
In the 2023 budget, the Federal Government allocated a staggering N1.5 billion for the procurement of vehicles for the Office of the First Lady. This allocation was part of the N2.1 trillion supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly. The budget breakdown indicates that an additional N2.9 billion was earmarked for sport utility vehicles for the Presidential Villa, alongside another N2.9 billion intended to replace operational vehicles for the Presidency.
Former Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume contested the allocation, asserting that the N1.5 billion was designated for the Presidency rather than the First Lady’s office. However, an investigation by our correspondent utilizing GovSpend—a civic tech platform that monitors Federal Government expenditures—revealed that a total of N700,707,532 was disbursed over three months specifically for the First Lady’s international trips.
Details of the expenditures include:
• November 17, 2023: N77,659,888 for foreign exchange ($94,314) for a trip to the United States.
• February 24, 2024: N149,794,284 for foreign exchange ($152,831) for a trip to France.
• March 15, 2024: N202,386,198 for foreign exchange ($126,834) for a trip to Mozambique, alongside N144,571,785 for a trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• Same Day: N126,295,377 for foreign exchange ($83,967) for a trip to London.
Additionally, the government allocated N314,231,472 for six programs initiated by the First Lady within four months. Notable payments include N131,921,786 to Rock of Ages Total Events Centre Ltd for event decorations and N107,630,000 to Makeway Nigeria Limited for multimedia services.
In total, the government’s expenditure on the First Lady’s trips and initiatives has reached N1,014,939,004 over seven months, a figure that has drawn sharp criticism from civil society organizations.
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has condemned the spending, arguing that it is inappropriate to allocate such substantial funds to an office that lacks constitutional recognition. Debo Adeniran, CACOL’s Executive Director, emphasized that this expenditure constitutes a misappropriation of public funds, urging Nigerians to vocally oppose such practices.
Adeniran stated, “It is more than profligacy; it is actually a misappropriation of funds because the office of the First Lady doesn’t exist in our constitution and is not supposed to be appropriated for. The complacency of the National Assembly has criminally empowered the executive to spend the national treasury on frivolities.”
Eze Onyekper, Director of the Centre for Social Justice, echoed these sentiments, asserting that the use of public resources for the First Lady’s activities is illegal and an abuse of office. He questioned the legitimacy of budgeting for an office that is not constitutionally recognized, emphasizing that such actions should not be funded by taxpayer money.
As public scrutiny intensifies, many Nigerians are left questioning the government’s priorities, particularly in light of ongoing economic challenges. The call for accountability and constitutional adherence in government spending has never been more urgent.