Senators express anger as Tinubu’s ministry allots N1 billion for a vacation overseas

December 13, 2023 Wale Ponnle

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The Ministry of Trade and Investment has suggested allocating an astounding N1 billion budget for a trip to Geneva, but the Senate Committee on Trade, Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, has voiced severe objections.

Minister of Trade, Industry, and Investment Doris Nkiruka-Anite Uzoka came under heavy fire during the defense of the 2024 budget when she disclosed the significant financial allocations for the trip to Geneva included in the ministry’s plan.

The proposed budget was sharply criticized at the conference by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo state, who claimed it was exorbitant and wasteful of tax dollars.

The minister was also asked to reevaluate the trip and use the ministry’s resources to save money by the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

“I see that you have allocated more than one billion Naira for your planned trip to Geneva in the upcoming year. We cannot continue to send overburdened teams on international travel. To cut costs, make use of the professionals we have in your offices in that nation, stated Oshiomhole.

In addition, Oshiomhole said that the minister regularly neglected her obligations, claiming that she was always present at the Bank of Industry rather than doing her office work.

“Madam, work for Nigerians while seated in your office. I’ve visited there twice. You are in the BOI at all times. He said, “If you were in favor of BOI, you ought to have refused the President’s appointment as minister.”

The minister had earlier outlined the ministry’s commitment to job creation, economic expansion, and several ongoing initiatives targeted at luring investment and industrialization.

But Oshiomhole’s insistence that trade balance statistics be found in other government organizations and the lack of hard data on the subject cast doubt on the ministry’s data management.

Author

Wale Ponnle

A passionate writer of everything politics in Nigeria with the goal and purpose of bringing authentic information and unbiased news to everyone everywhere.

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