Tensions are rising in Adamawa State after local government chairmen approved a leadership training trip to Istanbul, Turkey, for their wives.
According to reports, 21 spouses, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Local Government, left the country last week for the programme.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from workers and pensioners, who have condemned it as extravagant and tone-deaf.
Suleiman Toungo, Chairman of Toungo Local Government and head of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in the state, confirmed the trip.
He defended the decision, pointing out that the chairmen themselves had attended a similar overseas training just two months prior.
“We did our training two months ago, so I do not see anything wrong in our wives going for training outside the country,” Toungo told The PUNCH. “They are our wives and we need their advice. We are looking at the importance of training them on leadership, not the cost.”
However, both workers and retirees voiced strong opposition, criticizing the government for what they saw as misplaced priorities—especially while many are still waiting to receive their gratuities.
Abubakar Shehu, a 75-year-old retiree from Yola North Local Government, denounced the trip and urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate what he termed a financial scandal.
“What is the leadership position of local government chairmen’s wives? Even the wife of the governor is not sent abroad for leadership training. This is nothing but corruption and a mockery of democracy in Adamawa State,” Shehu said.
A retired staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, called on Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to refer the issue to the EFCC in order to protect the integrity of his administration.
“We now see the dangers of local government autonomy. Some of these wives did not even complete primary school, yet they are being flown to Istanbul in the name of leadership training,” he lamented.
A council chairman from northern Adamawa, speaking on condition of anonymity, has disassociated himself from the controversial trip.
He revealed that his wife’s inclusion was done without his knowledge or consent.
“I was asleep when an ALGON official called, asking for my wife’s details to process a visa. That was the first I heard of the initiative. It’s a blatant misuse of public resources,” he stated.
Meanwhile, workers’ unions are urging anti-corruption bodies to probe the spending, condemning the overseas training for chairmen’s spouses as a slap in the face to underpaid employees and neglected pensioners across the state.
(Punch Newspaper)
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