Nigerians blast Tinubu’s penchant for misusing public funds
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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“Why is Tinubu’s govt or administration gifting the players $100k each with an added three-bedroom flat?
“After the entire team is to get 30 percent of the prize money? So the cash gifts will be coming from taxpayers’ money or the one borrowed?
“For a country that’s crippling with poverty, and where civil servants are struggling to make ends meet, how does this even sit well with anyone? Sorry, but this is a misuse of public funds” – Daniel Regha, social media influencer.
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Nigerians have taken to social media to blast President Bola Tinubu, not for gifting the Super Falcons for winning a 10th WAFCON title, but for doing so in dollars thereby undermining naira and wreaking the economy he claims to be turning around.
Tinubu on Monday 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.
And earlier this year, he 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.
Most critics on X insisted that the cash reward for the Super Falcons should have been paid in naira if Tinubu were serious about stabilising Nigeria’s currency.
Oke O. Matarazi
“You’re telling us we’re trying to stabilise the naira, yet you dash out $100,000 to footballers and $50,000 to technical staff in foreign currency?
“Meanwhile, hardworking citizens and pensioners are choking under inflation, and manufacturers can’t access forex to import raw materials.
“What message are we sending? That celebrity applause is more valuable than economic discipline?
“Rewarding excellence is good. But leadership is also about symbolism, and this dollar generosity screams, “We don’t trust the naira either.”
Ifeanyi Okafor
“Why didn’t he pay them in Naira?”
Femi Yekinni
“Very commendable, Mr. President. A well-merited award and gifts for the girls. They made us all proud.”
Daniel Regha
“Super Falcons did a good job representing Nigeria, but why is Tinubu’s govt or administration gifting the players $100k each with an added three-bedroom flat?
“After the entire team is to get 30 percent of the prize money? So the cash gifts will be coming from taxpayers’ money or the one borrowed?
“For a country that’s crippling with poverty, and where civil servants are struggling to make ends meet, how does this even sit well with anyone? Sorry, but this is a misuse of public funds.”
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