President Muhammadu Buhari has
approved a directive for ministers, director-generals and other top government
officials to submit travel plans for clearance.
This was announced on Wednesday
in a statement signed by Willie Bassey, director of information to Boss
Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).
The government said this
development is in a bid to curb leakages and ensure efficiency in the
management of resources.
“President Muhammadu Buhari, has
approved for immediate implementation, additional cost saving measures aimed at
instilling financial discipline and prudence, particularly, in the area of
official travels,” the statement read.
“Henceforth, all Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are required to submit their Yearly Travel
Plans for statutory meetings and engagements to the Office of the Secretary to
the Government of the Federation 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.
“They are further 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.
“On the Nature and Frequency of
Travels, 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.”
He said when a minister is head
of a delegation, the size of such delegation should not exceed four, including
the relevant director, schedule officer and one aide of the minister.
The president also approved for
ministers, permanent secretaries, special advisers, senior special assistants
to the president, chairmen of extra-ministerial departments and chief executive
officers of parastatals who are entitled, to continue to fly business class
while other categories of public officers are to travel on economy class.
“Also, 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,” the statement read.
In the public service rules,
provisions are made for travel allowances, known as ‘estacode,’ for government
officials.
The auditor-general of the
federation has also been directed to treat all expenditures that contravene
these guidelines as ineligible.
Earlier, Chris Ngige, minister of
labour, had said the government would review the salaries and allowances ofpolitical office holders across the country.
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