Public Anger as Adamawa LG Chairmen Send Wives to Turkey for Training

Outrage has trailed the decision of local government chairmen in Adamawa State to sponsor their wives on a leadership training programme in Istanbul, Turkey.

The women, accompanied by senior officials from the state’s ministry of local government, reportedly left Nigeria last week for the trip. Suleiman Toungo, chairman of Toungo LGA and head of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Adamawa, defended the decision, insisting that the programme was designed to equip their spouses with leadership skills.

Toungo argued that since the council chairmen had undergone similar training two months ago, it was only fair for their wives to also gain exposure that would enable them to “offer useful advice” on governance. “They are our wives and we need their advice. We are looking at the importance of training them on leadership, not the cost,” he was quoted as saying.

The explanation has done little to douse public anger. Nigerians online have criticised the trip as wasteful and out of touch, particularly at a time when local governments are under pressure to justify their financial autonomy. Many described the trip as little more than a vacation disguised as official training, with one social media user mocking that “next up: side chicks of LG chairmen in Dubai to attend a training on how to assist in smooth running of LG chairmen’s hotels.”

Others questioned the rationale behind seeking leadership knowledge abroad instead of investing in domestic retreats at Yankari Games Reserve or Obudu Cattle Ranch. Some commenters pointed out that Adamawa, one of Nigeria’s poorest states, struggles with unpaid pensions and salaries while leaders funnel resources into such ventures.

The controversy comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling on July 11, 2024, which mandated that local government allocations be paid directly from the federal government and barred governors from appointing caretaker committees. Critics argue that instead of prioritising development, officials are exploiting the new financial independence of LGAs for personal benefit.