President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to temporarily halt all public-funded foreign trips for Federal Government officials, effective April 1, 2024. This move comes as part of the administration’s commitment to cost reduction amidst economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management.
Okay.ng reports that the directive, conveyed through a circular dated March 12, 2024, from the State House to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, aims to streamline government spending and enhance focus on effective service delivery. The suspension applies to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.
This decision follows the recent approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to implement the 12-year-old Steve Oronsaye Report, which recommended the merger of government agencies and commissions to reduce governance costs. Additionally, in January, President Tinubu had already reduced the size of travel delegations for official trips within and outside the country.
The need for cost-saving measures gained prominence amid criticism over the government’s expenditure, particularly highlighted by the perceived extravagance at the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai last December. With inflation, high living costs, and economic challenges exacerbated by the removal of petrol subsidy, many Nigerians have urged the government to demonstrate sensitivity to citizens’ plight by cutting governance costs.
