Public analyst and lawyer Justice Osai Ahiakwo has faulted President Bola Tinubu for flouting his own directive on curbing incessant foreign trips by government officials, describing it as wasteful and a clear case of misplaced priority.
Speaking with DAILY POST in Calabar, Ahiakwo recalled that the president had earlier cautioned public officials against frequent foreign travels in the name of fiscal prudence, yet has continued to embark on trips himself, including his current two-week “work vacation” in Europe.
He warned that such disregard for financial discipline undermines the government’s credibility and worsens the nation’s economic woes.
According to the lawyer, excessive foreign travel drains scarce resources, contributes to overspending, fuels debt accumulation, and damages Nigeria’s global image.
He lamented that wastage in governance has become routine, with neither the legislature nor state assemblies checking executive recklessness.
“The President must lead by example if he expects others to embrace fiscal responsibility. A government that lacks budget discipline cannot revive a failing economy,” he stressed, adding that both federal and state leaders are culpable.
He urged that laws be enacted to limit how often elected officials, including the president, can travel abroad.
He warned that unless such excesses are curtailed, “this embarrassing trend will persist even after this regime.”
Tinubu breaks own rule on foreign trips, wasting Nigeria’s resources – Lawyer
