THE Federal Government has placed a three-month ban on ministers and other government officials from publicly-funded overseas travels to curb government spending on foreign trips, with effect from April 1, this year.
This decision comes as a response to President Tinubu’s concerns regarding the escalating costs associated with such trips by public officials. His chief of staff highlighted the necessity of this move against the backdrop of mounting travel expenses incurred by the government.
With this, the Federal Government may be saving over N5billion every quarter, going by data was collated from the breakdown of funds earmarked for international travels in this year’s budget by 103 MDAs.
President Bola Tinubu had raised concerns over the rising costs of international travels borne by director, permanent sectaries and workers of the federal civil service.
To curtail the excesses, the President, in a letter dated March 12, 2024 and signed by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, banned government officials from embarking on public-funded trips overseas.
According to the letter: “Considering the current economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management, I am writing to communicate Mr. President’s directive to place a temporary ban on all public-funded international trips for all Federal Government officials at all levels, for an initial period of three months from April 1, 2024.
“This temporary measure is aimed at cost reduction in governance and intended as a cost-saving measure without compromising government functions.”
Government officials who needed to go on any public-funded foreign trip must seek and get presidential approval at least two weeks before embarking on such trip, which must be ‘deemed absolutely necessary.’
This decision came shortly after Nigerians, civil society organisations and rights groups lambasted the Accountant General of the Federation, commissioners of Finance of the 36 states of the federation and other government officials for choosing to hold a workshop in the United Kingdom (UK) at a time the economy is experiencing a major downturn.
The temporary ban is expected to affect 43 permanent secretaries under the Federal Civil Service.
On January 8, the President approved “cost-cutting” measures of 60 per cent splash of official entourage on local and international travels.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale: “President Bola Tinubu has approved that anywhere he travels within this country he will no longer accept or allow huge security delegations to be following him from Abuja, which attracts massive bills with respect to estacode and duty allowances from now on.
“He has approved a massive cost-cutting exercise that will cut across the entire federal government and the offices of the President himself, the Vice President and the First Lady. It will be conducted in the following fashion.
“On international trips, the President has directed that no more than 20 individuals be allowed to travel with him. That number will be cut down to five in the case of the First Lady.
“Additionally, the number in the entourage on official international trips for the Vice President will be cut to five. The number that will be placed as a limit on the wife of the Vice President is also five.”
This was five weeks after the administration criticised for participating in the United Nations (UN) yearly Climate Summit, tagged COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, with 1,114 delegates.
