Tension is rising in Adamawa as state workers have called for a full investigation by the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into an alleged ₦6.8 billion foreign trip to Turkey purportedly funded for the wives of certain local government chairmen.
Workers Allege Misuse of Public Funds
In a formal petition delivered to relevant authorities, the union representing civil servants in Adamawa claims that the funds used for the trip were drawn from public coffers and lacked transparency.
The workers argue that such a colossal sum should not be approved without due process, bidding, or accountability, especially given pressing developmental and salary obligations in the state.
They assert that the decision to sponsor the trip was made unilaterally by local government chairmen, with little to no legislative oversight or input from other stakeholders.
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“If ₦6.8 billion can disappear into a social sojourn abroad, what does that say about the priorities of our leaders?” one union leader was quoted as saying.
Potential Violations Cited
The workers’ petition outlines several potential violations:
Breach of procurement and disbursement rules, in that no open tender or formal approval appears to have preceded the allocation.
Diverted purpose of funds, if meant for public benefit but used for private or semi‑private travel.
Lack of accountability and audit trail, rendering recovery or verification difficult.
Violation of public trust, as employees contend the monies might better have been spent on infrastructure, staff welfare, or essential services.
They demand that the EFCC not only launch an immediate probe but also freeze associated bank accounts, examine travel records, and recover any misappropriated funds.
State Government Responds
While the state government has not yet issued a detailed public statement, insiders say officials are considering setting up an internal panel pending the findings of federal investigators.
Some aides insist that the trip was part of a cultural or diplomatic program, and that documentation exists to justify expenditures. Others reportedly favor full cooperation with the EFCC to avoid reputational damage.
This controversy comes amid recurrent allegations in multiple Nigerian states of inflated or unjustified travel, contract kickbacks, and ghost expenditures involving politically connected individuals.
In an environment where public confidence is shaky, such claims risk intensifying distrust in governance.
For the workers in Adamawa, the timing is particularly fraught: many have experienced wage delays, substandard working conditions, and unfulfilled promises of state‑level reforms.
They argue that while they struggle to subsist, public funds are being diverted into lavish trips.
