Adamawa State, Nigeria Suleiman Toungo, chairman of Toungo Local Government Area (LGA) and head of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Adamawa State, has defended the decision to send the spouses of local government chairmen and some senior local government officials on an overseas leadership training trip to Istanbul, Turkey. The training, according to Toungo, was designed to equip the wives with leadership skills to assist their husbands in advising and supporting governance at the local level. Sahel Reporters+2Daily Trust+2

What Toungo Has Said

• Toungo said that the wives “deserved capacity building,” explaining that many council chairmen had themselves taken similar international trainings about two months earlier. He stressed “we are looking at the importance of training them on leadership, not the cost.” politywatchonline.com+1

• He framed the training as a way to enable the chairmen’s spouses to better “assist and advise” their husbands, thereby implying their involvement in governance support and community engagement. politywatchonline.com+1

Public Reaction & Criticism

• The decision has sparked significant backlash — especially from workers, retirees, and public interest groups — who argue that the funds could better serve unpaid wages, pensions, or other pressing public needs. Critics call the overseas training “wasteful and insensitive.” Daily Trust+1

• Some council chairmen claimed they were not consulted before their wives were included in the programme, raising concerns about transparency. One chairman said he received notice for visa processes only after being asked to provide personal details. Daily Trust

• Retirees in the state have demanded investigations by anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arguing that this sort of expenditure, particularly when public servants and pensioners are owed, represents misprioritization. Daily Trust

Context & Implications

• The training was part of a larger leadership masterclass in Istanbul that involved about 21 wives of the Local Government Chairmen, as well as some senior officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Sahel Reporters+1

• The argument by Toungo and supporters is that wives’ roles in supporting community development, social cohesion, and soft governance are often underappreciated, and that building their skills in leadership, communication, influence, and community engagement could have downstream benefits. Sahel Reporters+1

• On the other hand, the controversy highlights tensions between public expectations for accountability in local government spending and the perception of elite privileges. The criticisms focus not just on the idea of training, but also on timing, cost, and whether such training is the best use of scarce resources.

What to Watch Next

• Whether the EFCC or other oversight bodies open formal investigations into the disbursement of funds used for the training.

• How the Adamawa State government responds to criticism, possibly by publishing detailed cost breakdowns, participant lists, and expected outcomes to demonstrate value for money.

• Whether similar leadership training programs will become more institutionalized or transparent, with clearer guidelines for who participates and how such programs are funded.

• The public’s response in subsequent periods, especially if unpaid workers’ and retirees’ issues remain unresolved while such programs continue.

Source Credit:

Compiled from reporting by Daily Trust, Polity Watch Online, and Sahel Reporters, September 2025. Daily Trust+2politywatchonline.com+2