President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate implementation of additional cost-saving measures in the area of official travels for government officials.
A statement on Wednesday by the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are now required to submit their yearly travel plans for statutory meetings and engagements to the office of the SGF and/or the office of the head of civil service of the federation for express clearance within the first quarter of the fiscal year before implementation.
The MDAs are also required to make their presentation using the existing template and also secure approvals on specific travels as contained in the plan, from the appropriate quarters.
The statement said that all public-funded travels (local and foreign) must be strictly for official purposes backed with documentary evidence.
“In this regard, all foreign travels must be for highly essential statutory engagements that are beneficial to the interest of the country. Except with the express approval of Mr. President, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Chairmen of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Chief Executive Officers and Directors are restricted to not more than two (2) foreign travels in a quarter,” the statement said.
It also said that a minister who is heading an official delegation must not be with more than three persons – a relevant director, schedule officer and one aide of the minister.
It added that every other delegation below ministerial level shall be restricted to a maximum of three.
President Buhari approved that ministers, permanent secretaries, special advisers, senior special assistants to the president, chairmen of extra-ministerial departments and chief executive officers of parastatals would continue to fly business class while other categories of Public Officers are to travel on Economy Class.
The statement also said that travel days will no longer attract payment of estacode allowances as duration of official trips shall be limited to only the number of days of the event as contained in the supporting documents to qualify for public funding.
