FG to Cut Travel Expenses by 60% Amidst Low Public Trust for Implementation

The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued an official travel directive for all members of staff amidst the executive arms of government as a measure of cutting down on government expenditure. This is following the taxpayers’ outcry over mismanagement of public funds for sending over 1,400 delegates on visits to Dubai during COP28.

This is a directive announced today by the Presidential aide on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, who, in an interview on Leadership TV, made this public knowledge.

However, the directives come with two indications of Foreign and Local trip expenditure, as they address both the Office of the President, Vice President and the First Lady, even though the Office of the President’s wife is not recognized by the constitution.

According to Ajuri, the Office of the President is said to have a 20-person entourage on foreign trips, while 25 personal entourage would be accorded to his local trips across visiting states in the country. The Vice President’s entourage on a Foreign trip is 5, while on a local trip it is said to be 15.

Additionally, Ministers are allowed to travel with 4 4-person entourage, while 2 2-person entourage is to Heads of MDAs.

Furthermore, the Wife of the President on Foreign trips would be 5 and 10 on Local trips within states of the country.

This directive is stated to be a cost-cutting exercise on government expenditure of official members of the executive branch of government, as the foreign trip numbers vary in low degrees as to local trips due to high travel expenses of foreign trips, Ngelale stated.

Meanwhile, former President Buhari also announced in 2019 to splash government officials’ travel expenses down by 60% with no proper implementation policies.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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