A leaked memo from the Secretary to the Government (SGF) George Akume, proposing N 1 billion budget for the inauguration of the 37-man tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage has sparked a public outrage.
Dated January 18, 2024, the memo was purportedly sent to President Bola Tinubu for approval, stating that the budget was scaled down from N1.8 billion.
A handwritten response from the President said “Start with N 500 million first,” representing %50 approval of the budget, with the possibility of a review.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for an investigation by the National Assembly into the N500 million approval, the first installment of the purported N1bn.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Friday, February 9, said the approval was the “height of financial recklessness.”
“The PDP describes 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 PDP’s position that the Tinubu-led government is a cesspit of corruption where officials engage in brazen and reckless treasury-looting,” Ologunagba stated.
Reacting to PDP’s claim, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said “it was worrisome” that an official correspondence within the presidency was leaked.
Onanuga called for a probe to get rid of those he described as “moles” loyal to the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, according to Saturday Punch.
He said; “It’s not the first time a memo will leak. There was a memo leak when the President went to UNGA, about a request for money to pay for his hotel bills and you wonder where it is leaking from.
“There are so many moles around who are probably doing the bid of the opposition. They are not respecting the civil service rule for handling official secrets. And it shows that the government should look inwards to probe how memos between officials are getting into the public space. Memos that are supposed to be secret are not supposed to be flying all over the place.”
Many Nigerians have criticised the federal government for “wasting public funds” when the country is battling economic hardship and insecurity.
An X user, Towolawi Jamiu said; “Why this wastage? Why is the process always long and tedious when it concerns the masses and always very quick and easy when the ruling elites want to increase the spending of their already extravagant lifestyle. How long did renovations and buying of SUVs take?
The current minimum wage in Nigeria is N30,000 per month since 2019, which is equivalent to about $21.43.
The tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage was inaugurated by Vice President Kashim Shettima on January 30, 2024.
The Vice President said the committee was expected to “work assiduously to complete its assignment within the shortest possible time and give a new minimum wage to Nigerian workers.”
