PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed a cut in the number of officials on the entourage of government functionaries travelling within or outside the country.
There have been public outcry over the large entourage and contingent of government officials to conferences and ceremonies within and outside the country, such as the last climate change conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and during his recent visits to Lagos since assumption of office.
According to the directive, for trips within the country, the President shall have an entourage of not more than 25 officials, while when on foreign trips, the number of accompanying officials shall not be more than 20 persons.
For the Vice President, he shall have not more than five officials accompanying him on foreign trips and not more than 15 officials on trips within the country.
The First Lady and the wife of the Vice President shall not have more than five officials on their entourage when travelling outside the country and a maximum of 10 accompanying officials each when travelling within the country.
For ministers, they shall have only four accompanying officials when travelling, while heads of agencies shall have two.
According to presidential spokesman, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, the decision was aimed at reducing the bills accruing from official trips of principal officers of government, while security outfits within states shall be the security masterminds for visiting officials.
“The reduction in the size of entourages will bring total sanity and prudence to the management of the commonwealth of our people.
“The President is insistent that the notion of government wastage, excessive recurrent expenditure is over,” he said
