The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the National Assembly to investigate the alleged approval of N500 million, the first part of a purported N1 billion approval by President Bola Tinubu for the inauguration of a 37-member Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage. A leaked memo surfaced, revealing the alleged approval by President Tinubu to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, for the inauguration of the said committee.
The PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, criticized the approval, labeling it as a display of financial recklessness. Ologunagba condemned the allocation of such a large sum for what he deemed a routine government activity, asserting that it exemplified profligacy and imprudence within the Tinubu-led administration.
Furthermore, Ologunagba deemed it provocative and unacceptable that such a substantial amount was reportedly allocated for committee inauguration amidst pressing national issues, including food shortages and economic challenges. He highlighted the purported request by the SGF for an initial sum of N1.8 billion, which was allegedly reduced to N1 billion, with President Tinubu purportedly instructing the SGF to commence with N500 million.
In response to the PDP's allegations, the Presidency called for an investigation into the civil service structure to identify and remove individuals it referred to as "moles" loyal to the PDP, whom it blamed for leaking classified documents. The Presidency emphasized the importance of maintaining confidentiality in correspondence between the Office of the President and the SGF, stating that leaks indicate vulnerabilities within the system.
Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, expressed concerns over the leakage of the memo and called for action to address the presence of individuals leaking classified information within the government. He suggested that leaks may be orchestrated by individuals aligned with the opposition, violating civil service rules regarding the handling of official secrets.
Additionally, another unnamed Presidency official defended the memo, characterizing it as a routine request for funds necessary to facilitate government operations.
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