In a decisive move to curtail government expenditure, President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive for a substantial reduction in the size of travel delegations accompanying Federal Government officials on both domestic and international trips.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this development during a press briefing held at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday. The directive, according to Ngelale, mandates a 60% reduction across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including those of the President, Vice President, and First Lady.
Ngelale further explained that the President has now approved a maximum of 20 individuals to accompany him on official travels, down from the larger entourage sizes seen in the past. The Vice President’s delegation is limited to 15 members for official trips within the country, while both the First Lady and the Vice President’s wife are restricted to 10 members each for official trips within the country.
Expressing the President’s commitment to fiscal prudence and cost management, Ngelale stated that these measures signify a departure from past practices, emphasizing the end of the era characterized by government wastage and excessive recurrent expenditure.