Probe unappropriated spending, opposition parties urge FG

Wife of the President, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, has distinguished herself as one of the most benevolent first ladies in the country, having doled out an estimated N12.9 billion in two years.

Tinubu, in her right as the mother of the country, has at intervals donated the sum as philanthropy and humanitarian interventions for victims of terrorism and natural disasters nationwide, and sometimes beyond the shores of Nigeria.

The donations were under the platform of her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative, and at other times, in her personal capacity.

While the gesture is receiving applause and commendations, there is a brewing concern about the source of the sum, its appropriation, and accountability in the process.

Recall that Mrs Tinubu, a former Lagos first lady and senator who represented Lagos Central District, is not a stranger to humanitarian kindness and its public display among the masses.

She was the brain behind the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) – a forum of wives of serving commissioners – to engage and boost the morale of the female folks through women empowerment and social interventions.

On the sidelines of COWLSO, Mrs Tinubu also founded the New Era Foundation, through which she undertook programmes that sought to uplift youths in Lagos State by moving them away from drugs, crimes and other anti-social activities.

But since her transition from former Senator to wife of the President in 2023, her milk of human kindness has pumped with more intensity, leading to donations in parts of the country.

In July 2023, she donated N250,000 each to 57 flood-affected families in Abuja (N14.25 million); August – December: N50 million was donated to 1,000 female traders in Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Edo States (as part of a N1.8 billion target for 37,000 traders nationwide); November: recorded the donation of N427.75 million to 1,709 widows and orphans of fallen military heroes (at N250,000 each).

Additional support in 2023 was N500 million to displaced families in Plateau. The sum of N70 million was given to women farmers in the North-West, N150 million for scholarships and diaspora health interventions and in December, N95 million in rice and cash were distributed to Christian communities across Northern states.

In March and December, the first lady gave out N1 billion in pledged support towards tuberculosis eradication in Nigeria, just as food support programmes and Christmas relief materials were provided for indigent persons.

So far this year, the following donations have been made: N100 million to families of tanker explosion victims in Niger State (N1 million each to 70 families, plus supplies); N1 billion pledged for tuberculosis awareness and treatment (second consecutive year).

Others are Disability Empowerment Scheme: N1.85 billion committed to empower persons with disabilities (N200,000 each to 250 people in all 36 states and FCT); Economic Empowerment – Kaduna State: N50 million grant to 1,000 women traders, along with 10,000 professional kits for midwives in the North-West and Food Outreach – Kogi State: N250,000 grants for 200 PWD households, with accompanying food items.

Between May and July 2025, these monies have been donated: N100 million to the Five Cowries Art Education Initiative; N1 billion to victims of violent attacks in Plateau State; N1 billion donation to victims of the Yelwata attack in Benue State, and pledged sustained support for displaced persons.

This month, N1 billion and relief materials to flood victims in Niger State were given out, even as she launched an empowerment scheme for 500 women in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Not government money
Mrs Tinubu has consistently said that the funds are not from government coffers but are sourced through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

She stated: “I do not have vast sums of money, but what I have is meant to bring life…The money I use is not government funds. It is personally raised to help others.

“The Office of the First Lady has no constitutional allocation. If I kept money for personal gain, it would satisfy my greed. I choose to use what I have for the good of this country. This is not about politics—it’s about love for Nigeria.”

Special Adviser to the First Lady on Media, Busola Kukoyi, earlier said that the motivation behind the First Lady’s donations was her increasing love for humanity, and “she believes that the most important thing is to build human beings, and she feels the donations will affect human lives directly. She is a lover of humanity, and that is what she has been doing all her life.”

Kukoyi added: “Many of the donations are under her Renewed Hope Initiative, and on the source of funding, there is a governing board for the initiative where we have reputable men and women from all over the country. Also, there are friends of the Renewed Hope Initiative who believe in the course of what she is doing.

“Well-meaning Nigerians are on the governing board, and of course, it is in the public space. Reputable businessmen and men of means, with credibility, have been the ones donating to the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Probe unappropriated spending
Critics are, however, not pleased with the method of humanitarian services.

The spokesman for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Tanko Yinusa, faulted the donations without a clear budgetary appropriation.

Yinusa, while acknowledging the humanitarian nature of the interventions, insisted that public accountability must not be sacrificed on the altar of charity.

“We are not opposed to her humanitarian services — they are good and welcome. However, she cannot be spending public funds without proper appropriation in the national budget,” he said.

He described the practice as part of the impunity plaguing governance and called for clarity regarding the source of the funds.

“This is part of the impunity we are talking about, and it is enough to warrant questions, if not impeachment, should her husband’s administration fail to account for such expenditures. Nigerians deserve to know the business or businesses she is running if the funds are from her private purse,” Yinusa said.

He also took a swipe at the National Assembly and anti-corruption agencies for their silence on the matter, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

“That such a level of spending has not attracted investigation is disturbing. It is a serious matter that must be probed. Yes, humanitarian efforts are commendable, but the public has a right to know the source of the funds being used,” he added.

Immediate past National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, also questioned the source, describing it as suspicious and unsustainable.

Nwosu wondered at what point public servants or their spouses suddenly become major philanthropists, adding that “Nigerians are no longer easily deceived”.

“The question we are asking is, how many such donations did Mrs Tinubu make before becoming First Lady, that she can now afford to donate billions within a few months?” he asked.

While acknowledging the appeal of humanitarian gestures, the ADC chieftain argued that the funds expended by President Bola Tinubu and his wife on palliatives and donations could have been better utilised to generate a long-term impact.

“As decorated as the programmes may appear, the money wasted on palliatives and donations could have created over 500,000 jobs. The multiplier effects would have benefited over two million Nigerians,” he said.

Referencing the 1999 Constitution, a top member of the ruling party, who is also a lawyer, stated that the issue is far from mild or trivial.

“If she claims the money is from her personal purse, then she needs to show us the business source,” he said. “Otherwise, if it is from donations, then it runs contrary to the law.”

He explained that the laws governing public donations or gifts by government officials are primarily established in the Fifth Schedule, Part I of the 1999 Constitution, the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (CPRO) Act, 2000. These legal frameworks outline stringent rules regulating gifts, donations, and benefits involving public officers.

According to him, Section 6(1–3), Fifth Schedule of the Constitution clearly states that public officers must not request or accept any property or benefit in connection with their official functions.

“Acceptance of such gifts, especially from business firms, contractors, or entities engaged in government business, is presumed improper unless proven otherwise.

“However, exceptions exist: gifts from relatives or personal friends given in customary contexts—such as weddings or funerals—are permitted.

“Also, gifts received during public or ceremonial occasions are considered gifts to the institution, not the individual, and their acceptance does not constitute a violation.

“Under the CPRO Act 2000, and as reflected in the Code of Conduct legal framework, it is an offence for any person to offer property, gifts, or benefits to a public officer as an inducement or bribe to influence official duties. It is equally an offence for a public officer to accept such benefits with that intention.

“Furthermore, if a public officer receives a prohibited gift or benefits through a nominee, trustee, or agent, it is still considered a breach of the Code.”

The source concluded: “If the First Lady claims the funds are from sources other than her personal purse, we deserve to know. And if she insists it is from her own purse, then she should tell us what business she is involved in.”

Publicity Secretary of the Lagos chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Seye Oladejo, said it was deeply unfortunate that what should be applauded as compassionate leadership and genuine outreach is now being cynically mischaracterised by detractors for political point-scoring.

“These criticisms are not only unfounded, but they also ignore the longstanding track record of Senator Tinubu’s selfless service to Nigerians, especially the underprivileged and marginalised,” the party noted.

Insisting that humanitarianism is not a crime, the party asked: “What is wrong with a First Lady showing empathy in action? What is wrong with using her platform to mobilise support for the less privileged? In a time when economic challenges weigh heavily on millions of families, any well-meaning initiative aimed at bringing relief and restoring dignity to lives should be encouraged, not condemned.

“Senator Tinubu’s gestures are well-coordinated, transparent, and often implemented in collaboration with credible organisations, state governments, and private sector partners. Every donation, every outreach, and every empowerment programme is guided by the principle of Renewed Hope—giving Nigerians the strength to believe again in a better tomorrow.

“Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s humanitarian gestures are not only noble—they are necessary. Her initiatives provide tangible relief and renewed hope for thousands of families across the country. As citizens, we must rise above cynicism and embrace every opportunity to support acts of kindness, regardless of where they come from. History will remember those who built and healed—not those who criticised compassion.”