ADC cautions Tinubu to stop abusing naira, setting example for citizens to heed NOA campaign
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bola Tinubu has been cautioned by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to stop announcing monetary rewards in United States dollars, saying it shows a lack of respect for Nigeria’s own currency, naira.
ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi made the call in a post on X, citing the monetary rewards the President gifted the national female football team, the Super Falcons, and national female basketball team, D’Tigress which were announced in dollars within a week of each other.
“We thank President BAT for amply rewarding our victorious Falcons and D’Tigress.
“But we find it strange that the President has repeatedly shown his disregard for the Nigerian sovereign currency by announcing the awards in US Dollars,” Abdullahi wrote.
He referenced the National Orientation Agency (NOA), saying: “Mr. President sir, NOA [National Orientation Agency] says, ‘Stop the Naira Abuse.”
Tinubu on July 28 rewarded the 24 players of the Super Falcons with $100,000 each and the technical crew $500,000 each, which siphons at least $2.9 million from the federal treasury which he claims not to have funds to provide critical infrastructure like electricity.
Exactly a week later, he also rewarded the D’Tigress with $100,000 each for winning their fifth straight African female basketball championship, the 10th overall.
Earlier this year, Tinubu approved $20,000 each as medical allowance for Service Chiefs, encouraging them to seek treatment abroad rather than spending the money at home to help develop local healthcare delivery.
Apart from ADC, other Nigerians have also taken to social media to knock Tinubu, not for rewarding the Super Falcons for winning a 10th WAFCON, but for doing so in dollars thereby undermining naira and wreaking the economy he claims to be turning around.
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