President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to reduce both international and local travel expenditures for all government officials by 60%, according to Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
News About Nigeria gathered that this move is part of the presidency’s cost-cutting measures aimed at promoting fiscal responsibility.
Ngelale disclosed the details of the directive on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, stating that the directive covers the President, Vice President, First Lady, ministers, and heads of agencies.
The reduction in official travel expenditure will apply to the entire government, reflecting a commitment to prudence in spending.
He said “President Tinubu has directed that all state entourages be drastically reduced. This is not a request. It is a directive. The office of the president and staff will be affected. Vice President, appointees are affected.
“By this directive, there will be a slashing of expenditure on official travel by 60 percent.”
As per the directive, the president is limited to a maximum of 20 staff members for both domestic and international trips.
Similarly, the Vice President is allowed five aides for international travel and 15 for domestic trips.
The offices of the First Lady and the wife of the Vice President are entitled to five international and 10 domestic trip aides.
In addition, ministers are restricted to four staff members accompanying them on foreign trips, while Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of government agencies are limited to only two staff members for such trips.
President Tinubu has also decided not to travel with large security delegations to any state, and the directive states that the security arrangements for the President, Vice President, and other government officials during state visits will be managed by the respective state’s security apparatus.
