Ahmed Bola Tinubu of Nigeria is set to introduce a three months suspension of government sponsored foreign trips for government officials.
The chief of staff to president Ahmed Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has said the move was prompted by the president’s “concerns about the rising cost of travel expenses” by public officials.
According to the information, the ban will take effect on 1st day of April 2024.
It should be noted that many Nigerian citizens have been criticizing President Tinubu and his administration for their frequent visits to overseas.
Tinubu came under attack on social media after his government sponsored over 400 people to attend the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in November 2023.
And since his inauguration in May 2023, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu has made more than 15 foreign trips.
According to BBC News, the number one citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigerian is said to have spent at least 3.4bn naira ($2.2m; £1.8m) on domestic and foreign travel in the first six months of his presidency.
Senator Tinubu’s chief of staff Femi Gbajabiamila said the travel ban will cut costs during this Nigeria’s “current economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management”.
Nevertheless, Nigeria is battling with one of its worst cost-of-living crises in many years. This situation has resulted to escalated hardship and anger.
This three-month block on official travel by government officials is President Bola Tinubu’s latest attempt to counter the public criticism.
In January, the Nigerian president announced a reduction in the size of the official travel delegation by about 60% , including cuts to his own travel entourage.
When the ban takes effect in April, government officials will only go on foreign trips “deemed absolutely necessary”. They will also require President Tinubu’s approval at least two weeks before they travel.
Mr Gbajabiamila added that the halt on travel will ensure that government officials “focus on their respective mandates for effective service delivery”.
Despite clamping down on travel by government officials, Mr Tinubu has not said whether he will reduce his own trips.
The president and his representatives have in the past defended his trips as being vital in addressing the economic problems he is accused of ignoring.
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Source: BBC News
