Remi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, faces criticism regarding a series of expenditures totalling approximately ₦250 million.
She spent the amount on various state-related events between March and July 2024.
The payments, disclosed through the public spending platform Govspend. ng, reveal sums allocated to luxury services, including event decor, catering, and fresh flowers.
Some highlighted expenses were ₦19.9 million spent on the Sheraton Hotel and ₦57.8 million spent on catering for the Democracy Day celebration, both paid to Rock of Ages Total Events.
It also included a further ₦131.9 million and an additional ₦77.5 million towards fresh flowers for decoration.
These expenditures have raised concerns among critics, particularly given the Tinubu administration’s earlier commitment to fiscal transparency and responsible use of public funds.
Donations or Government funds?
Earlier in the month, the first lady claimed everything she did was funded primarily through donations and charitable contributions rather than government money.
She uses the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), a project created to help Nigerians in areas like agriculture, health, education, social investment, and economic empowerment, as a backbone.
This emphasizes the suggestion that she uses donations and collaborative efforts to support various social programs.
The recent event has sparked a debate among Nigerians about the need for extravagant spending during the current economic state.
She is said to display insensitivity, spending ₦250 million solely on event decoration.
Upon assuming power, the government pledged to encourage the responsible use of public funds, particularly given Nigeria’s persistent economic difficulties.
However, these recent revelations appear to contradict that commitment.
Amidst recent unrest over the petrol hike, Nigeria continues to grapple with high unemployment and inflation rates.
If one person can afford this much for decorations, how much was spent on the entire event, and what impact did it have on Nigeria and its citizens?
It could be argued that the funds spent on luxury services could have been better directed towards urgent issues such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The criticism surrounding these payments is part of a broader scrutiny of the Tinubu administration’s fiscal practices.
Earlier in the year, reports surfaced of ₦473 million spent on the First Lady’s international trips to the UK, Ethiopia, and Mozambique.
Such revelations have opened public debate on the priorities of government resources and the need for greater accountability.
The question on the minds of many Nigerians is whether the government will respond with tangible actions.
Will there be reforms in state funds allocation, or will the status quo prevail?
