In a bid to reducing the cost of governance, President Bola Tinubu has announced a substantial 60% cut in the travel expenditure of government officials within his administration. The decision, revealed by Presidential Spokesman Chief Ajuri Ngelale during an address to State House Correspondents, is part of a broader initiative to curtail spending.
Ngelale emphasized that this directive is not a mere request but a firm commitment to cost-cutting measures. The impact of this decision will extend to the travel budgets of the President, Vice President, First Lady, ministers, and heads of various government agencies.
“All state entourages will be drastically reduced. This is not a request; it is a directive. The office of the president and staff will be affected. VP, appointees are affected. By this directive, there will be a slashing of expenditure on official travel by 60%,” stated Ngelale.
President Tinubu has imposed specific limitations on the number of accompanying staff for official travels outside Nigeria. The maximum number of accompanying staff during international trips for the President is now set at 20. Additionally, ministers are instructed to restrict their entourage to four members, while heads of government agencies are limited to a maximum of two accompanying personnel.
In a move to further streamline expenses, Tinubu has abolished the practice of extensive security delegations during visits to states within the country. The President has directed that, in the event of his visit to any state, the local security apparatus will be solely responsible for his security. This directive also applies to the Vice President and other high-ranking government officials. President Tinubu’s bold initiative marks a significant step toward fiscal responsibility and efficiency in governance.