The presidency has reacted to a statement circulating on social media alleging that President Bola Tinubu has announced 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.
