The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “cesspit of corruption.”
The party’s condemnation comes in response to the reported approval of N500 million as the first instalment of N1 billion allocation to inaugurate a 37-man Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage.
According to the PDP, the allocation for a routine government activity like committee inauguration exemplifies profligacy, imprudence, and financial recklessness.
The party argued that such spending indicates corruption within the Tinubu-led government.
The PDP expressed concern about the substantial expenditure at a time when the nation faces challenges such as food shortages, economic difficulties, and delayed salary payments for workers.
The party called for the Tinubu Presidency to address the nation and urged the National Assembly to investigate, utilizing its powers under Section 88 of the Constitution.
Part of the statement signed by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, read:
“It is highly provocative and unpardonable that at the time the nation is suffering acute food shortage; when millions of Nigerians are starving due largely to inadequate investment in food production, insecurity and harsh economic policies of the government; a time when workers are still being owed their January 2024 salary and other legitimate entitlements, President Tinubu is allegedly spending N1 billion to inaugurate a committee.
“It is 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.”
