President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a massive cut on official travel delegations for foreign and domestic trips by about 60 percent.
This directive cuts across the entire Nigerian government Ministries, Agencies, and Departments as well as the office of the President, Vice President, the office of the First lady, and of the wife of the Vice President.
Addressing State House Correspondents on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said that the directive was issued to ensure that the prudence of government officials reflects the prudence and efficiency of the Nigerian citizens.
On the details of the directive, Ngelale said, “The massive bills that accrue due to allowances and estacodes for security details on domestic trips of President Tinubu within Nigeria will now be reduced.”
The Presidential Spokesperson explained that the President has now approved that not more than 20 individuals would be allowed to travel with him on international trips.
He also said that “for the Vice President’s international travels, only 5 officials will now be allowed, with numbers of officials on the First lady’s office reduced to five as well.
On official trips, the President has directed that not more than 20 individuals be allowed to travel with him, that number is been cut down to five in the case of the first lady.
Also the numbers in the entourage in the international trip of the VP will be five.
Speaking on domestic trips for the President and the Vice President, Ngelale stated that 25 members of staff would accompany the President on local trips within the country.
He said; “The VP will be limited to 15 members of staff while his wife will be limited to 10 members of staff within the country.”
The Special Adviser to the President also disclosed that security outfits within States including the Directorate of State Security Service, the Police, and all braches of the military will assume the Frontline protective detail of the President.
He said; “The security outfits within states whether DSS, police or branches of the military will Frontline his protective detail when he travels across Nigeria in a major cost-cutting initiative that will affect the office of the Vice President and the office of the first lady.”
Additionally, four members of staff or appointees of Ministers of the Cabinet will be allowed to travel on international official trips with their principals.
Speaking on travel permits for Heads of agencies, only two members of staff will be allowed to travel on official trips as directed and approved by the President.
He said; “It is pertinent to note that there is a difference between the numbers of staff permitted to travel with the presiding officials to international trips and those allowed to domestic”.
Ngelale further explained that travel permits for government officials on the President’s foreign trip is reduced due to the high cost involved in international travels.
“This is because international trips are far more expensive across the board and the President is determined to bring total sanity and credence to the management of the Commonwealth of Nigerians
“As a result of this the President has directed that every Federal MDAS also including the office of the President and the Vice President as well as the offices of the wives of the First and second lady are bound by the directive of the President,”he stated.
The Spokesperson to the President further said that the directive is to eliminate government wastage and recurrent expenditure and curtail excesses of government officials.