Local Government Area chairmen in Adamawa state have sponsored their wives for a leadership training programme in Istanbul, Turkey.
Wives of the LGA chairmen, accompanied by senior officials from the ministry of local government, reportedly left the country last week for the training.
Suleiman Toungo, chairman of Toungo LGA and chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, said the training is intended to equip their spouses with leadership skills.
He said the council chairmen embarked on their own training recently, arguing that their wives need similar exposure so they can offer useful advice to them on governance.
“We did our training two months ago, so I do not see anything wrong with our wives going for training outside the country,” Punch quoted Toungo as saying.
“They are our wives and we need their advice. We are looking at the importance of training them on leadership, not the cost.”
Meanwhile, the trip has sparked widespread criticism on social media platforms, with Nigerians describing the episode as wasteful in light of the recent financial autonomy granted to local governments.
