The spending of 21 billion naira to build the official residence for Nigeria’s vice president at a time of economic hardship in the country casts doubt on the federal government’s commitment to the welfare of citizens.
Development Diaries reports that the the N21 billion official residence of the vice president was commissioned by President Bola Tinubu on Friday amid economic hardship.
It is unfortunate that the President Tinubu administration government would allow such ‘extravagant spending’ even as it continues to urge citizens to endure the current economic and social hardship in the country.
It is also saddening that this is happening in the face of surging national debt and the inability of the government to pay a ‘working’ minimum wage.
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), in its latest Nigeria Economic Outlook, the poverty level in Nigeria will increase to 38.8 percent in 2024. This is enough reason for the government to channel resources rightly.
Section 14(two)(b) of the Nigerian constitution provides that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’.
Bearing this in mind, it is safe to say that this spending of N21 billion on a residence for the vice president is a serious betrayal of public trust that seeks to further the personal interests of public figures at the expense of millions of impoverished Nigerians.
It would have been better for the government to use the funds allocated to the project to support millions of Nigerians, especially vulnerable groups, who are currently having a hard time making ends meet.
It could also have been more prudently spent on critical infrastructure projects, health care, education, or social welfare programmes that directly impact the lives of ordinary citizens.
By prioritising luxury accommodations for political elites, the government sends a message that it is out of touch with the daily struggles faced by the majority of Nigerians.
Moreover, this decision also undermines public trust and confidence in the government’s ability to manage resources effectively and equitably.
Development Diaries, once again, calls on President Tinubu and his team to prioritise the reallocation of funds from non-essential projects to programmes that directly address the well-being of Nigerians.
Photo source: Kashim Shettima
