The Federal Government has restricted ministers, permanent secretaries, chairmen of extra-ministerial departments, chief executive officers and directors from embarking on foreign travels more than twice in four months.
The government has also directed all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to submit their yearly travel plan 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 clearance within the first quarter of the fiscal year before implementation.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, who announced this in a statement in Abuja, on Wednesday, said this was to block leakages and ensure fiscal prudence in the system.
The statement was signed by the Director, Information Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Willie Bassey.
Mustapha noted that to ensure efficiency in the management of resources of government, “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 SGF urged the MDAs to make presentation of their travel plans 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, Mustapha directed that all public-funded travels (local and foreign) must be strictly for official purposes and to be backed with documentary evidence.
