NIGERIAN GOVT SPENT N473M TO SPONSOR TINUBU’S WIFE TRIP TO UK, MOZAMBIQUE, ETHIOPIA

download 19 3

NIGERIAN GOVT SPENT N473M TO SPONSOR TINUBU’S WIFE TRIP TO UK, MOZAMBIQUE, ETHIOPIA

The Nigerian government spent the sum of N473 million to sponsor the trips of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to three countries; United Kingdom, Mozambique and Ethiopia, data from public payments portal Govspend.ng has shown.

The Nigerian government spent the sum of ₦126.295 million to sponsor the trip of the First Lady to London, UK.

The amount was equivalent of $83,967.00 in March 2024, meaning the money was exchanged at the rate of N1,504/dollar.

Another sum of N144.571 million was spent to sponsor her trip to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

The trip was made on February 9, 2024. The dollar equivalent of the amount was $96,118.

Another sum of N202.386 million was spent to sponsor the First Lady’s trip to Mozambique in March 2024.

The dollar equivalent of the money stood at $126,834.00.

All of these expenditures were recorded on the same day, March 15, 2024 on the Govspend website.

The expenditures come amid concerns on the need to ensure proper management of the country’s scarce resources.

The Nigerian government has continually lamented inadequate revenue.

The organised labour recently demanded an increase in the minimum wage, a development that has continued to trigger disagreements, with the government saying it is unable to pay due to paucity of funds.

SaharaReporters recently raised flags on the inability of the country to release budget performance reports under the Tinubu-led administration, a violation of the law and one that denies citizens access to information on what the government is spending money on and how it is spent on a quarterly basis.The government also plans to borrow N6.6 trillion to manage budget shortfalls, yet prudence in budget management remains a keen concern.

  • Dons Eze

    DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.

    Related Posts

    EX-IMO GOVERNOR OKOROCHA’S BUILDING COLLAPSES

    EX-IMO GOVERNOR, OKOROCHA’S BUILDING COLLAPSES IN ABUJA This is not the best of time for former Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, as his five-storey building under renovation collapsed in Abuja. It was gathered that the building collapsed along Ahmadu Bello Way in Abuja around 9:pm on Monday, July 1. Police said three victims were successfully evacuated from the collapsed building The building collapse sent panic to residents of the entire neighbourhood in the federal capital territory (FCT). The FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the building’s collapse in a statement, The Nation reports. Adeh said police operatives were able to rescue three persons from the collapsed building after they cordoned off the entire area. She added that the rescued persons were rushed to the hospital for treatment. “The FCT Police Command hereby confirms that yesterday, July 1, 2024, at about 8:40 p.m., there was a building collapse at Unity House, Area 11 by Nkwere Street. “In response to the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, promptly moved to the scene with multiple patrol teams as first responders to cordon off the area for possible rescue. “Three victims were successfully evacuated from the collapsed building and rushed to the hospital for medical care.”Director of the FCT Fire Service, Amiola Adebayo, who also confirmed the incident said no life was lost.

    ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION NOT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT IN NIGERIA -NERC

    ELECTRICITY COMSUMPTION NOT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT IN NIGERIA, NERC The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said that electricity consumption is not a fundamental right that can be challenged by any consumer in Nigeria. NERC’s legal team’s position is against a suit which had asked the Federal High Court Abuja to restrain it and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) from giving effect and continuing with the implementation of multi-year tariff order 2024 which classified electricity consumers into Band A to E. The restraining requests was filed by Barrister Festus Sanmi Onifade, who stated he sued for himself and on behalf of other consumers in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/492/2024. In his affidavit in support of the originating summons dated April 16, 2024, Onifade contested the various power supply timelines set for residents in Nigeria, insisting that a 20-hour power supply to Band A residents alone amounts to preferential treatment and discrimination of other Nigerians. He faulted the electricity price increment and downgrading insisting that he and other customers who are on B, C, D and E are seeing their fundamental right to freedom from discrimination being breached by the development. He was of the view that the policy of classification by NERC allegedly gives a preferential treatment to Customers in band A over and above the Claimant and other customers in band B, C, D and E respectively. The lawyer sought both interim and perpetual order, restraining NERC, AEDC and the Attorney-General of the Federation from continuing with the policy of classification of Nigerian customers to Band A, B, C, D and E by their location and increasing their tariffs. In its notice of preliminary objection seen by Nairametrics, NERC’s lawyers, Harry O. Ukaejiofor and Safiiya Mohammed, asked Justice Inyang Ekwo to strike out the suit. They argued that the classification of electricity consumers into Band A, B, C, D & E does not amount to discrimination as outlined by the claimant. “There are no fundamental rights to electricity, and the plaintiffs by this action erroneously seeking to enforce a customer/consumer right against his service providers and their regulator in the guise of a fundamental right, “ NERC stated in its processes. NERC’s legal team further explained that there is no evidence that the claimant complied with the condition in Chapter IV of the NERC’s Customer Protection Regulations 2023. NERC’s Customer Protection Regulations 2023 states that the claimant’s complaint should be entertained first by the Consumer Complaint Unit of the AEDC and the forum established by the NERC in Abuja before he can approach the court with his complaint. “The failure of the Plaintiff to comply with the aforesaid condition precedents makes this action unnecessary and premature. “This Honorable Court lacks the jurisdiction and/or competence to entertain this action as presently constituted and as such the court ought to strike out this action, “ NERC submiited. The case is adjourned to 23 September for further mention. NERC had announced a new electricity tariff increase for customers in the Band A category from N66/kWh to N225kWh, that is, those enjoying a 20-hour electricity supply daily. NERC revealed the Federal Government planned to save N1.5 trillion with the tariff adjustment while subsidizing Bands below the A classification. The Commission had fined Abuja Disco N20 million for wrongfully billing Band B customers with Band A electricity tariff rate. The policy intends to align tariffs with the quality of service provided, and the latest order from the NERC aims to ensure that DisCos fully recover operational costs and earn a reasonable return on investment.The court has now been invited to interpret the legality of NERC’s policy among other things.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    I DIDN’T DISCUSS NNAMDI KANU’S RELEASE WITH SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS – OBASANJO

    IMMORTALIZE HUMPHREY NWOSU, EX-NEC CHAIRMAN – HOUSE OF REPS

    WHY WE’RE REVIEWING ORONSAYE REPORT – HOUSE OF REPS

    EX-IMO GOVERNOR OKOROCHA’S BUILDING COLLAPSES

    RETURN 22 VEHICLES UNDER YOUR CUSTODY WITHIN SEVEN DAYS – GOV OBASEKI TO EX-DEPUTY SHAIBU

    DON’T PAY TO APPLY FOR PRE-PAID METER – EEDC WARNS CUSTOMERS