NewStats: 3,263,463 , 8,180,204 topics. Date: Friday, 06 June 2025 at 03:19 AM 6h5k42

Former Minister for Youth Development and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, has disclosed that former President Goodluck Jonathan restricted each of his ministers to the use of only two cars during the fuel subsidy removal crisis in 2012.

He stated that Jonathan also stopped of his cabinet from travelling in first class with a view to providing more funds for other relevant government activities.

According to him, though some ministers didn’t comply with his directive, the ex-president told them to reflect on the sufferings Nigerians were going through by reducing the cost of governance.

The former minister spoke on the heels of the N27.5tn budget estimates for the 2024 fiscal year tagged the ‘Budget of Hope’ presented by President Bola Tinubu and currently being scrutinised by the National Assembly.

There have been mixed reactions from the public and the t National Assembly Committees on the huge amount allocated to some items of ministries and agencies of the government in the proposed budget.

The Committee on Trade and Industry had frowned on the allocation of N1bn for a foreign trip to Geneva, Switzerland, by the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

The lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, at the defence of the 2024 budget of the ministry, cautioned against travelling with over-bloated teams, thereby increasing the cost of governance.

The State House had also earmarked N9.5bn for the purchase of tyres for bulletproof vehicles, Sport Utility Vehicles, operational vehicles, plain cars, and the construction of an office complex for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants.

Earlier, the sum of N160bn was appropriated to purchase SUVs for lawmakers of the National Assembly.

Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the former minister expressed the need to reduce the cost of governance.

He said Nigerians would have hailed the National Assembly if they had reflected on the sufferings of the people by using part of the funds on constituencies and purchasing Nigerian cars.

He said, “I in January 2012, during the issue of the fuel subsidy. That was the first time the former president, Goodluck Jonathan, wanted to take the issue of fuel subsidy head-on. I at one of the meetings, former President Jonathan told us that as ministers, we could no longer travel first class.

“He also said we could no longer move around with sirens and we could only go out with our car and one other backup car. He said we needed to reflect sensitivity to the feelings of the people. Some people complied and some others didn’t comply, but the principle was very clear, and we also tried to adjust.

“I tried to imagine a National Assembly where a decision is taken that, given the situation of the country, they (National Assembly) are going to buy from Nigeria cars like Innoson Motors and they can use some part of the money for their constituency. I can’t imagine how Nigerians would hail them if that kind of decision were taken.”

https://punchng.com/jonathan-stopped-first-class-travel-among-ministers-in-2012-says-ex-minister/

former President Goodluck Jonathan been mean well for Nigerians but Nigerian people don't want something good

Meanwhile, our current tyrant is splurging billions of Naira in sponsoring clowns to Dubai while his workers are being paid #30,000 minimum wage.

Renewed hope.

No matter how much you hate Sir Peter Obi, you will agree that he will curb unnecessary spending in the government. Imagine spending billions to renovate houses when people are living in poverty.

They don’t need to fly first class when they could buy a brand new private jet with their loot. Was Deziani’s son not seen a private jet owned by his family?

Currently we have thieves, shameless
thieves in Aso Rock
.

Damnnn niggar

Jonathan my niggar

If you criticise Jonathan, Buhari and now you no longer want to criticise tinubu because of tribalism and religion sentiments may you and your children know no peace
If you were gingered in 2012 protest when Jonathan removed subsidy and you were part of the protest but now you suddenly lost your voice for a protest when the suffering under tinubu is getting worse may you and children know no peace

The level of tribalism and religion sentiments going on in this country is getting worse

Now for all those rejoicing in my first prayer
I will also say this if you did not criticise Jonathan and Buhari but quick to criticise tinubu now may you and your family know no peace

We must unite against our politicians because they have united against us

Nigerians don't appreciate good things sir.

Fly Business classs please.

Travel with 40 V8 SUVs and make sure you triple that amount budgeted for the Geneva trip.


Double the number of aides that every political appointee currently has.

In 2024, please budget another 160b for cars for of the national assembly and make sure that is done annually.


Before the end of Tinubu's istration, ammend the constitution to allow for former presidents to recontest presidential elections, then convince Buhari to contest, so that he can continue from where Tinubu stopped.

God bless our Christian president Jonathan...

God bless the good people of Southsouth and Southwest..

Only Christian presidents know how to rule this country...

Ok naa

The last president we had.

True

Nigeria will get it better one day. All of u are thieves.

There's never been a better president in Nigeria after Jonathan

Let's enjoy the monster we made

So if you were asked to summarize the essence of the story, this is what you would write?

They wasted the money spent on your education

drlateef:
They don’t need to fly first class when they could buy a brand new private jet with their loot. Was Deziani’s son not seen a private jet owned by his family?

These days every riffraff in public office moves around in long convoy of vehicles (without plate numbers) escorted by gun toting security men and loud sirens. Misfits in public office.

Dem wan chop money

slaawomirr:
Damnnn niggar

Jonathan my niggar

If you criticise Jonathan, Buhari and now you no longer want to criticise tinubu because of tribalism and religion sentiments may you and your children know no peace
If you were gingered in 2012 protest when Jonathan removed subsidy and you were part of the protest but now you suddenly lost your voice for a protest when the suffering under tinubu is getting worse may you and children know no peace

Although this prayer is sponsored by weed but nevertheless, AMEN

Now we have Private Jet and billion Naira trips.

Urheaster:


former President Goodluck Jonathan being mean well for Nigerians but Nigerian people don't want something good

Absolute truth.. most especially our brothers up north has to stop voting based on religious lines

ok

So why did you resign from his cabinet when Saraki cross carpet?

Good one from GEJ.
If some stupid tribalistic Nigerians weren't deceived by the evil party APC, we wouldn't have been here today. APC is demonic. They can to steal, kill and destroy.
Now , the masses are suffering.

slaawomirr:
Damnnn niggar

Jonathan my niggar

If you criticise Jonathan, Buhari and now you no longer want to criticise tinubu because of tribalism and religion sentiments may you and your children know no peace
If you were gingered in 2012 protest when Jonathan removed subsidy and you were part of the protest but now you suddenly lost your voice for a protest when the suffering under tinubu is getting worse may you and children know no peace

The level of tribalism and religion sentiments going on this country is getting worse

Now for all those rejoicing in my first prayer
I will also say this if you did not criticise Jonathan and Buhari but quick to criticise tinubu now may you and your family know no peace

We must unite against our politicians because they have united against us

Peace Will be far from them

Jonathan had many flaws

But his biggest undoing was that he was not from the North or west, or east

He was a tribe that didn't have much political weight, so it was only natural they the west and north ed forces to pull down his govt

WhisperedNoise:
Meanwhile, our current tyrant is splurging billions of Naira in sponsoring clowns to Dubai while his workers are being paid #30,000 minimum wage.

Renewed hope.

The same Jonathan looted amnesty money to set up Air Peace

Ok

"The Committee on Trade and Industry had frowned on the allocation of N1bn for a foreign trip to Geneva, Switzerland, by the Ministry of Trade and Investment."

The ministry has refuted this information with evidences. So why are our journalists still propagating it? It's either as a result of failed career or outright mischief