To mark the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the Ministry of Youth Development invited at least 50 youths from across Nigeria’s 36 states to the presidential villa. This venture cost the ministry N20 million, paid in violation of the financial regulations, FIJ has gathered.

Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, and immediately began policy changes he claimed would save the country some money. “Fuel subsidy is gone,” he said during his inauguration, immediately increasing the cost of living and dividing expert opinions.

One year after taking the reins, the presidency organised a celebratory event at the villa to mark the milestone. As part of preparations, the Jamila Ibrahim-led youth ministry shelled out N20 million to invite youths to attend.

Ibrahim’s ministry made N10 million payments twice to one Dahiru Jibril on May 25, 2024, for the same purpose. Each payment, FIJ found on the Govspend portal, has a different payment number.

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Each payment description reads: “Being payment for invitation of 50 youths from 36 states of the federation to participate in the celebration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first year anniversary at the presidential villa.”

The payments had codes 1001185448-1 and 1001185448-2.

By paying into a private account, the ministry violated Nigeria’s Financial Regulations.

Chapter 7, Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations (2009), states: “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account. Any officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention.”

FIJ earlier reported how the State House headquarters violated the same regulation when it made a N10 million payment to a private account on March 15 to purchase consumables for Nana Shettima, wife of Vice President Kashim Shettima.