President Bola Tinubu has suspended publicly funded foreign trips by ministers, heads of agencies and other government officials.
The three-month temporary ban will come into effect from April 1, 2024. The decision was made through a letter dated March 12, 2024, written by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and addressed to George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
President Tinubu raised concerns over rising travel costs for government agencies, stressing the importance of officials focusing on their duties amid the challenging economic climate.
The move is aimed at tightening administrative spending while ensuring that government operations are not disrupted. To achieve this, any official planning to travel abroad on public funds must get presidential approval at least two weeks in advance, with the trip deemed essential.
The decision comes after public backlash over reports that nearly 590 individuals accompanied President Tinubu to a summit in Dubai in January. The government has clarified that the funding was only allocated to 422 individuals in the delegation.
President Tinubu has taken the initiative to cut government spending and implement recommendations from the Orasanye report. In January, he also reduced the size of his entourage for domestic and international travel, capping it at 25 people for domestic trips and 20 people for international trips. He has also opted for local security measures at his destinations rather than traveling with a large security team from Abuja.
