Hardship: Tinubu Goes Tough, Bans Ministers, Top Govt Officials From Traveling Abroad

President Bola Tinubu has placed a ban on publicly funded international trips for ministers, officials, and heads of agencies.

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, conveyed the directive in a letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

The letter cited the “current economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management” as reasons for the temporary ban on international travel funded by taxpayers.

Tinubu stated, “Mr. President has concerns about the rising cost of travel expenses borne by Ministries, Department and Agencies of Government as well as the growing need for Cabinet Members and heads of MDAs to focus on their respective mandates for effective service delivery.”

He continued, “Considering the current economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management, I am writing to communicate Mr. President’s directive to place a temporary ban on all public funded international trips for all Federal Government officials at all levels, for an initial period of three (3) months from 1st April 2024.”

Tinubu emphasized that exemptions would require presidential approvals sought two weeks before the planned trip.

He concluded, “This temporary measure is aimed at cost reduction in governance and intended as a cost-saving measure without compromising government functions.”

The ban follows public reactions to a recent overseas trip by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), which organized a workshop on Public Financial Management and International Public Sector Accounting Standards in London, UK, from March 4 to March 9, 2024.