Public affairs commentator and legal practitioner, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, has openly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for disregarding his own directive on reducing unnecessary foreign trips by government officials. He described the president’s actions as wasteful, insensitive, and a reflection of misplaced priorities in governance.

In an interview with LMSINT MEDIA in Calabar, Ahiakwo reminded Nigerians that President Tinubu had previously warned public officeholders against excessive international travels as part of measures to ensure fiscal responsibility. However, according to him, the president has continued to embark on frequent journeys abroad, including his ongoing two-week “working vacation” in Europe.

Ahiakwo argued that such acts of financial indiscipline weaken the government’s credibility and worsen Nigeria’s already fragile economic situation. He noted that the president’s constant trips portray a lack of seriousness in tackling pressing domestic issues, especially at a time when the country is grappling with inflation, rising debt, and widespread unemployment.

The lawyer further stressed that frequent foreign trips by leaders place a huge strain on the nation’s scarce resources, encourage overspending, and push the country deeper into debt. Beyond financial consequences, he warned that such actions also damage Nigeria’s reputation before the international community.

He lamented the growing culture of wastefulness in governance, pointing out that the legislative arm and state assemblies have failed to hold the executive accountable for reckless expenditures.

“The President must be an example of discipline if he wants other public officials to embrace fiscal responsibility. A government that spends without control cannot hope to rescue a struggling economy,” Ahiakwo emphasized, holding both federal and state leaders responsible for the problem.

He went further to call for the enactment of strict laws that would place limits on how often elected officials, including the president, can embark on foreign trips. According to him, without such legal restraints, the embarrassing trend of waste and abuse of public funds will likely continue even after the current administration.