Statement cutting my salary by 50%, scrapping Office of First Lady not from me – Tinubu

By KEMI KASUMU

The presidency has disowned a statement circulating on social media purporting President Bola Tinubu as announcing a 50% reduction in his salary and scrapping the First Lady’s office, among other measures.

Bayo Onanuga, the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to President Tinubu, issued a statement on Saturday dismissing the alleged presidential broadcast as “totally false” and a product of “mischief makers.”

Onanuga said, “Please ignore the text of an alleged broadcast said to have been made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“It is totally false. It is the handiwork of mischief makers, people bent on sowing confusion and chaos in our country. Please ignore it. President Tinubu has not made any broadcast.”

The broadcast, which had been widely shared on social media platforms, falsely claimed that Tinubu was implementing drastic measures to address Nigeria’s economic challenges in the wake of a planned nationwide protest by citizens over economic hardship.

It also falsely claimed that President Tinubu was planning to sell some presidential aircraft and restore fuel and electricity subsidies.

Other measures include the purported reduction of the number of ministers, mandating the use of locally manufactured products by government officials, and prohibition of foreign medical trips for government personnel.

This comes days after President Tinubu’s meeting with traditional rulers at the State House, where he addressed concerns about the planned protests and the state of the nation’s economy.

During the meeting with the traditional rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife, Tinubu had said, “We’re not afraid of protests. Our concern is the ordinary people, and the damages that will be done.”

He recalled past incidents of destruction, including buses burnt during the EndSARS protests in 2020.

Tinubu assured the traditional rulers that his administration was committed to addressing the plight of citizens and will do more to meet their needs.

However, an exclusive comment reacting to the broadcast statement after the denial said, “As usual, the presidency has described the press release as fake. This is typical of his style of measuring the public pulse.  He will later reconsider his position that is not too distant from the dismissed statement.”

See the statement being denied below:

PRESIDENT TINUBU SPEAKS

My fellow Nigerians,

I stand before you today with a heavy heart, but also with hope and determination. Our beloved nation faces unprecedented economic challenges that demand bold and decisive action. As your President, I am committed to leading by example and making the difficult decisions necessary to put Nigeria back on the path to prosperity.

Effective immediately, I am announcing a 50% reduction in my salary and all other emoluments. I call upon the Vice President, Senate President, and all other top government officials to follow suit. We who have been entrusted with leadership must be the first to make sacrifices for the good of our nation.

In the spirit of fiscal responsibility, I am also announcing the following measures:

1. The Office of the First Lady will be scrapped to reduce unnecessary expenditures.

2. We will sell off several presidential aircraft that are currently idle, retaining only those essential for official duties.

3. Government ministries will be consolidated, with a maximum of 36 ministers to streamline operations and reduce costs.

4. Fuel and electricity subsidies will be restored to provide immediate relief to our citizens, while we work on long-term solutions to our energy challenges.

5. All government officials will be mandated to use locally manufactured products, including automobiles, to support our domestic industries and reduce foreign exchange outflows.

These are just the first steps in our comprehensive plan to cut the cost of governance and redirect resources to critical areas of need. We are also implementing the following additional measures:

6. A significant reduction in the number of political appointees and aides across all levels of government.

7. The implementation of a comprehensive e-governance system to reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency.

8. A review and renegotiation of all government contracts to ensure value for money.

9. The introduction of a performance-based budgeting system to ensure that every naira spent delivers tangible results for our people.

10. A freeze on non-essential foreign trips by government officials, with a shift towards virtual meetings and conferences.

11. Effective immediately, there will be no more foreign trips for medical treatment for myself, my cabinet, and all government officials. We will use Nigerian hospitals and medical facilities. This measure will not only save foreign exchange but also demonstrate our commitment to improving our healthcare system. We must have faith in our own doctors and nurses, and work together to enhance the quality of healthcare available to all Nigerians.

I want to assure all Nigerians that these measures are just the beginning. We are committed to a complete overhaul of our governance structures to make them leaner, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of our people.

To our youth who have planned protests under the #endbadgovernment banner, I hear your frustrations. I understand your anger. But I implore you to give us a chance to implement these reforms. Let us channel our collective energy into rebuilding our nation rather than further dividing it.

The road ahead will not be easy. It will require sacrifice and patience from all of us. But I have faith in the resilience and ingenuity of the Nigerian people. Together, we can overcome these challenges and build a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria.

May God bless you all, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you.