Ministers, heads of agencies, and other government employees are not permitted to go abroad on public funds, according to President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
First, the prohibition will take effect on April 1, 2024, and it will endure for three months.
This was stated in a letter dated March 12, 2024, signed by the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila and delivered to George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on behalf of President BolaTinubu.
Tinubu issued an order in January to cut down on the number of persons traveling with him both domestically and abroad, specifying that the members of his delegation must not be more than twenty for overseas travel and twenty-five for domestic travel.
Additionally, he insisted on being protected by security officers at his location rather than having numerous Abuja-based security personnel accompany him.
This followed the criticism he received both during and after the most recent Conference of Parties (COP28), which was held in the United Arab Emirates and was attended by roughly 590 officials from Nigeria.
In response to the outcry from the public, the administration stated that only 422 of the 590 members of the delegation received financing.
The letter indicating the ban read in part, “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 months from Ist April 2024.”
The letter stated that the prohibition was put in place to cut down on governance expenses.
It added, “This temporary measure is aimed at cost reduction in governance and intended as a cost-saving measure without compromising government functions.”
In addition, Tinubu stated that government employees who plan to take any kind of publicly sponsored overseas trip must apply for and receive presidential approval at least two weeks in advance, and the trip must be “deemed absolutely necessary.
He said, “All government officials who intend to go on any public funded international trips must seek and obtain Presidential approval at least two weeks prior to embarking on any such trip, which must be deemed absolutely necessary.”
