President Bola Tinubu has slammed a three-month ban on all federal officials from embarking on public-funded foreign trips.
This was revealed in a memo signed by the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume.
The memo, dated March 12, 2024, banned all ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of federal agencies, commissionss, parastatals and boards from engaging in a foreign trip in the next three months.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, conveyed the directive in a letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
The Presidency said the new policy which takes effect from April 1, 2024, was necessitated by the “current economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management.”
The president said the few exemptions would require a presidential approval two weeks ahead of the planned trip.
Parts of the memo reads: “Mr. President has concerns about the rising cost of travel expenses borne by Ministries, Department and Agencies of Government as well as the growing need for Cabinet Members and heads of MDAs to focus on their respective mandates for effective service delivery.
“Considering the current economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management, I am writing to communicate Mr Presideni’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 (3) months from Is April 2024.
“This temporary measure is aimed at cost reduction in governance and intended as a cost-saving measure without compromising government functions.
“All government officials who intend to go on any public funded international trips must seek and obtain Presidential approval at least two (2) weeks prior to embarking on any such trip, which must be deemed absolutely necessary.”
The new policy is coming at a time the country is facing myriad economic challenges that include rising cost of food, foreign exchange crisis, among others.
