The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the National Assembly to investigate President Bola Tinubu’s presidency following the leak of a memo detailing a N1 billion expenditure for the inauguration of a minimum wage committee.
The leaked memo, allegedly from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, claims President Tinubu approved N500 million as the first installment for the inauguration of a 37-person committee.
The PDP condemned this alleged spending, calling it “the height of profligacy, imprudence and financial recklessness” and “a cesspit of corruption” within the Tinubu administration. They emphasized the timing of the expenditure, highlighting the nation’s current struggles with food shortages, worker salary arrears, and economic hardship.
“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,'” the PDP statement read.
They accused the government of insensitivity towards the plight of Nigerians and demanded transparency from the President: “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.”
Furthermore, the PDP urged the National Assembly to launch an investigation into the matter: “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.”
The President and the government are yet to respond to the allegations or the PDP’s demands for an investigation.