President Tinubu Temporarily Halts Public-Funded Foreign Trips for Officials

President Bola Tinubu has halted public-funded foreign trips for ministers, agency heads, and other government officials.

Starting from April 1, 2024, a three-month temporary ban will be in effect. This decision came through a letter dated March 12, 2024, penned by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and addressed to George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

President Tinubu raised concerns about the soaring travel expenses incurred by government entities, stressing the importance of officials focusing on their duties amid ongoing economic challenges.

The move aims to tighten the belt on governance expenses while ensuring government operations remain unaffected. To this end, any official planning a public-funded foreign trip must secure presidential approval at least two weeks in advance, with the trip deemed essential.

This decision follows public backlash over reports that nearly 590 individuals accompanied President Tinubu to a summit in Dubai in January. The government clarified that funding was allocated for only 422 individuals in the delegation.

President Tinubu has been proactive in trimming government spending and implementing recommendations from the Orasanye report. In January, he also trimmed the size of his entourage for local and international trips, capping it at 25 for local journeys and 20 for overseas travel. Additionally, he opted for local security arrangements at his destinations instead of traveling with a large security detail from Abuja.