Angered by the expensive social lifestyles exhibited lately by some government functionaries amid the biting economic hardship, President Bola Tinubu has resolved to sanction anyone found wanting.
A Presidency source confided in our correspondent yesterday that the president’s resolve “might amount to removing any appointee who exhibits excessive display of wealth” while celebrating either birthday or any other social event.
The president’s decision, according to the source, came on the heels of a security report which detailed billions of naira being spent by a top appointee to celebrate his week-long birthday.
The report allegedly contained details, especially the number of private jets hired by the said top official who heads a sensitive interventionist agency in the southern part of the country.
“The economic situation we have in this country as a result of the current reforms being carried out by the president is clear for all to see. Nigerians are bearing with us but we have to be careful not to take their sacrifices for granted.
“It is a very serious crime against our collective emotions if high profile officials of government, especially those appointed by the president to man certain agencies, carelessly market wealth through birthdays and other social events.
“It is very shameful that a security report can detail not less than N10 billion spent on an individual’s birthday and this involves chartered flights and private jets that flew across Abuja and two state capitals, all in the name of birthday celebration.
“This was a very disturbing security matter that caught the attention of Mr President and he has issued an initial order to initiate measures to curtail this uncontrolled display of wealth by political office holders under him,” the source said.
