President Bola Tinubu has initiated a substantial 60% reduction in expenditures related to both foreign and domestic official travels. The cost-cutting measures will apply to the President, Vice President, and the First Lady's offices, signifying a comprehensive approach to fiscal responsibility.
According to Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, the directives include limiting the number of individuals accompanying officials on trips. For foreign travels, the President will be accompanied by a maximum of 20 persons, the Vice President and First Lady by five each. For local trips, the corresponding limits are 25 persons for the President, 15 for the Vice President, and 10 for the First Lady.
Furthermore, Ngelale explained that significant reductions in allowances and estacode for security details during domestic trips would contribute to overall cost savings. The President has mandated that security outfits within states take the lead in providing protection during state visits, reducing the need for additional security details from Abuja.
For international trips, the President has set limits on the number of accompanying staff. Ministers are allowed four members, heads of agencies two members, and for the President's principal staff, the limit is 20 individuals. The First Lady's entourage is limited to five, and the Vice President's to five as well.
On local trips, the President has approved a limit of 25 staff members to accompany him, while the First Lady's office is limited to 10. The Vice President will have 15 staff members on local trips, mirroring the limit for his wife.
Ngelale emphasized that the President's directive applies to all federal MDAs, including the President, Vice President, and the First and Second Ladies. The move underscores President Tinubu's commitment to fiscal prudence and aligning government spending with the expectations of Nigerian citizens. The directive aims to put an end to perceived government wastage and excess recurrent expenditure. Compliance with this directive is expected to be taken seriously, and any attempt to test it will be at one's own peril.
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