Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has introduced new travel measures directing public office holders to travel with economy class when on official duties.
The new policy, introduced by the President, is to cut travel expenses incurred by public office holders and ensure efficiency in the management of the country’s resources.
In a statement signed by Willie Bassey, Director of Information, to the Secretary of the Federation, it was disclosed that the president approved the immediate implementation of the cost saving measures.
The new travel measures, according to the statement, will ensure financial discipline and prudence, particularly, in the area of official travels.
The presidency also maintained that the nature and frequency of travels for all public funded travels (local and foreign), must be strictly for official purposes backed with documentary evidence.
Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Chairmen of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Chief Executive Officers and Directors are restricted to not more than two foreign travels in a quarter.
According to the new policy, when a Minister is at the head of an official delegation, the size of such delegation shall not exceed four including the relevant Director, Schedule Officer and one Aide of the Minister.
Every other delegation below ministerial level shall be restricted to a maximum of three.
In cases where expenditures contravene the president’s newly-introduced guidelines on travels, the Auditor-General of the Federation has been directed to treat the expenditures as ineligible.
Source: Pulse Nigeria
