2024 Budget: Trade Minister Under Fire Over 1bn Allocation For Geneva Trip

Senators on Tuesday criticised the Ministry of Trade and Investment’s allocation of a N1 billion budget proposal for a trip to Geneva.

During her defence of the 2024 Budget before the Senate Committee on Trade, Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Doris Nkiruka-Anite Uzoka revealed the budgetary provisions in a document.

Reacting, former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole however dismissed the estimate as humongous and a waste of public funds.

Senator Oshiomhole tasked her to shelve the Geneva trip and make use of experts in her Ministry.

He said: “I see that you intend to travel to Geneva next year and you have budgeted over one billion Naira for that. We can’t keep going on with over-bloated teams on abroad trips. Use the experts we have in your offices in that country to save cost.”

Oshiomhole also accused the Minister of always abandoning her desk and on permanent visits to the Bank of Industry.

He said: “Madam, sit in your office and work for Nigerians. I have gone there twice. You are always in the BOI. If you preferred BOI, you should have declined the President’s nomination to be Minister.

The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also picked holes in Nigeria’s balance of trade with other countries.

“What is our balance of trade? Especially with China. Those countries importing things to Nigeria are expected to build factories in Nigeria. We have to take advantage of our population to grow our industries.”

She could however not give a convincing narrative as she said that her Ministry has no record of balance of trade with other nations.
(Vanguard)