The Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Doris Nkiruka-Anite Uzoka, is in the eye of the storm over a N1 billion allocation for a trip to Geneva, Switzerland captured in the ministry’s 2024 budget proposal.
The heat on the minister began on Tuesday when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Trade, Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment to defend her ministry’s 2024 budget proposal.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC – Edo North) knocked the ministry for budgeting N1 billion for one trip, describing it as a “waste of public funds”.
“I see that you intend to travel to Geneva next year and you have budgeted over one billion Naira for that. We can’t keep going on with over-bloated teams on abroad trips. Use the experts we have in your offices in that country to save cost,” the senator told the minister.
The senator also berated the minister for abandoning her desk and paying permanent visits to the Bank of Industry.
“Madam, sit in your office and work for Nigerians. I have gone there twice. You are always in the BOI. If you preferred BOI, you should have declined the President’s nomination to be Minister,” Oshiomhole said.
Meanwhile, other Nigerians on social media, especially X, joined the Senate to condemn the N1 billion planned foreign trip.
@Nithsmit wrote, “They’ve no idea to revive the economy, they know how to do is traveling and wasting our money.”
@DatNaijaGuy1 wrote, “Dis people don really see us finish. Bad leadership aside, Nigerians are weaklings. I don’t know of any country in Europe or Asia that will stomach the nonsense we absorb in Nigeria.”
@olamideadara wrote, “Ole. Diezani sister. They are here to steal kill and destroy. They can never change…prodigals.”
“Na mars she dey go?” @wisdom_edike queried.
@abiola_felix wrote, “1 billion for foreign trip while the people are going through difficult time, very insensitive.”
@abdulzarumihot1 wrote, “It is time for President Tinubu to expel such hopeless individuals from his administration. Renew hope will not put up with a self-serving, avaricious individual.”
@KINGSLEYIOSAGI1 wrote, “These ministers are just acting like someone gave dem target to bring money in the next one year. D aviation guy wants to build run way for 81 abi 87billion. They should just steal the country and change d name. May be then they will be comfortable.”