On Saturday, July 27, an alleged broadcast text of President Bola Tinubu went viral on social media especially on whatsapp platform, suggesting that Tinubu had slashed his salary by 50 percent and scrapped office of the first lady.
The supposed speech was titled differently like “President Tinubu Speaks,” and “President Tinubu Address the Nation.”
In the text, Tinubu also asked Vice President, Kashim Shettima and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to follow suit in the interest of the country.
“Effective immediately, I am announcing a 50% reduction in my salary and all other emoluments. I call upon the Vice President, Senate President, and all other top government officials to follow suit. We who have been entrusted with leadership must be the first to make sacrifices for the good of our nation,” the viral post reads in part.
“In the spirit of fiscal responsibility, I am also announcing the following measures: the Office of the First Lady will be scrapped to reduce unnecessary expenditures. We will sell off several presidential aircraft that are currently idle, retaining only those essential for official duties.
“Government ministries will be consolidated, with a maximum of 36 ministers to streamline operations and reduce costs. Fuel and electricity subsidies will be restored to provide immediate relief to our citizens, while we work on long-term solutions to our energy challenges,” the alleged broadcast text reads in part.
VERIFICATION
On July 18, 2024, members of the Federal House of Representatives declared that they had slashed their salaries by 50 per cent due to the economic hardship across Nigeria.
Meanwhile, there is an ongoing plan for a nationwide protest slated for August 1 over the hardship in Nigeria. The planned protest by young Nigerians tagged #EndBadGovernance has been gaining traction across Nigeria.
Totally False
Media platforms have been awashed with reports of the planned protest as well the actions being taken by the President and security agencies ahead of it.
Tinubu has met with different governors, traditional rulers and religious leaders in a bid to stop the planned protest. There are also demands by some leaders that Tinubu should address the nation on the agitation.
Checks across major media platforms showed that the President has neither addressed the nation nor indicated his intention to do so. Presidential spokesmen have equally not issued a statement (s) in that regard.
However, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has debunked the broadcast text in the circulation. In a post on his X handle (formerly twitter), Onanuga described it as “totally false”.
“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,” he posted, alongside the circulated text.
VERDICT: False
