In the footage circulating on social media, the minister is seen sharing cash with women gathered inside a hall during the political event. Each woman reportedly received ₦100,000.
The development has triggered questions about the source of the money and whether public funds are being used to provide financial incentives to selected participants at political gatherings.
Reacting to the video, a critic suggested that the money could have come from savings generated by the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that such resources should be directed towards improving the living conditions of Nigerians rather than benefiting a limited number of people.
The critic maintained that it would be better for the government to reconsider aspects of its subsidy policy if the resulting savings were not translating into meaningful relief for ordinary citizens.
“I believe this is our subsidy money. It’s better to reverse it than allow these few number of clowns enjoying, while 200m Nigerians suffering,” the critic said.
The reaction reflects wider public concerns over the management of resources reportedly saved from the removal of petrol subsidies in May 2023.
The Tinubu administration has repeatedly defended the policy, arguing that it would free up funds for investment in infrastructure, social programmes and other critical sectors. However, many Nigerians continue to complain about rising food prices, transportation costs, inflation and declining purchasing power.
While the video shows the minister distributing cash, it does not independently establish the source of the funds or whether the payments were made from public resources.
The incident has nevertheless renewed debate about political spending, accountability and whether government interventions are reaching the wider population amid the country’s continuing economic difficulties.
