The Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, on Sunday dismissed criticisms that officials within President Bola Tinubu’s government live lavishly.
Dr. Adedeji who featured on a national TV interview said President Tinubu leads a modest day-to-day life despite persistent public scrutiny over government spending.
He was pressed about the lifestyles of political leaders in the administration amid rising living costs and economic strains for many Nigerians.
“Mr. President goes from home to office on foot, not even driving except when he is going to the airport,” Dr. Adedeji said in response to questions about recent reports describing a large presidential convoy and the use of luxury vehicles.
He added that President Tinubu typically eats once a day and had not left the country in the past three months.
When asked about the number of Cadillac Escalades reportedly attached to the presidential convoy, Dr. Adedeji dismissed the line of questioning as misleading and unnecessary, saying the President could afford such vehicles.
“How much is an Escalade that the President of Nigeria cannot afford? Please don’t embarrass this country,” he said.
Dr. Adedeji also sought to reframe the debate over public displays of wealth, noting President Tinubu’s daily work routine and lack of public leisure.
“What is living large? In the last months, he has not even left the shores of this country, trekking and working,” he said.
“If you go there now, you will see him review one document or the other.”
The comments come as Nigerians confront high inflation and economic pressure, issues that have intensified scrutiny of government expenditures and the lifestyles of public officials.
NewsQuest reports that critics and some opposition figures have seized on periodic reports about lavish convoys and official residences to question the administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
The NRS boss rather praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms including the removal of fuel subsidies, unification of the exchange rate, and tax reforms, measures he argued are addressing long-standing distortions in the economy.
He highlighted major improvements in revenue, with monthly allocations rising from N4.6 trillion to N16 billion in allocation to some State of the Federation and the country’s refining capacity increase from 30,000 to 700,000 barrels per day, and a market capitalization rise from N30 trillion to N150 trillion as results of the reforms.
do According Dr. Adedeji, Nigerians need to reward President Tinubu for his audacious decisions that have saved the economy from total collapse by re-electing him in the 2027 general election to consolidate on the foundations he has laid for the future.
