The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) expresses deep outrage over the scandalous decision by Adamawa State Local Government officials to sponsor a luxury trip to Istanbul, Turkey, under the pretence of “leadership training.” This delegation comprising the wives of 21 Local Government Chairmen, senior ministry officials, and spouses of Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries embodies a shocking betrayal of public trust.

Let us be clear: this is not leadership development. It is a taxpayer funded vacation.

A Misplaced Priority in a Time of Crisis
While Adamawa’s pensioners die waiting for their entitlements, workers remain unpaid, and communities suffer from poverty, illiteracy, and crumbling infrastructure, officials are jetting off to Europe for a week long “Leadership and Management Masterclass for Senior Female Executives.” What official roles do these wives hold that warrant such extravagant training abroad?

A Price Tag That Defies Logic
Each participant is estimated to spend over ₦3 million on flights alone, excluding accommodation, feeding, and allowances. With a delegation of this size, the total cost could run into hundreds of millions of naira. This is not just reckless, it is obscene.

Training Could Have Been Done Locally
If capacity building were truly the goal, world class institutions within Nigeria could have delivered effective, transparent training at a fraction of the cost. What unique wisdom does Istanbul offer that cannot be found in Abuja, Lagos, or Yola?

A Call for Urgent Investigation
CHRICED demands that anti-corruption agencies immediately investigate this trip. The scale and secrecy suggest it may be a cover for money laundering or other financial misconduct. If wrongdoing is uncovered, those responsible must be held accountable without delay.

Citizens Must Rise
Adamawa’s people must not remain silent. This trip sets a dangerous precedent. If left unchecked, we risk a future where entire families of government officials are placed on the public payroll and sponsored on meaningless foreign junkets while the real needs of the people are ignored.

Enough Is Enough
This scandal is a symptom of a deeper rot, leaders who lack credibility, compassion, and competence. CHRICED calls on all oversight institutions, civil society groups, and concerned citizens to demand an end to wasteful governance and a redirection of public resources toward education, healthcare, security, and infrastructure.

Signed:
Furera Isiaka
Communication Officer, CHRICED