President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a tough stance on the enforcement of some cost-saving measures.
In a personal memo, he directed that no member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) should have more than three vehicles in a convoy.
None of them is also expected to have more than five security personnel – four policemen and one Directorate of State Service (DSS) operative – attached to him.
Security chiefs are also affected by these decisions.
Heads of military and para-military agencies will collaborate with the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu to determine the suitable reduction in their security detail. The NSA is mandated to ensure compliance.
These decisions are in line with the government’s position on reduction in the cost of governance.
The presidential directive was made known yesterday by Bayo Ononuga.
The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President said: “President Bola Tinubu has restricted ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies of the Federal Government to a maximum of three vehicles in their official convoys.
“No additional vehicles will be assigned to them for movement. The cost-cutting measure was announced today (yesterday) in a statement signed by the President.
“In January, President Tinubu took significant steps to reduce government expenditure by reducing his entourage on foreign trips from 50 to 20 officials. For local trips, he reduced it to 25 officials.
“He similarly reduced the Vice President’s entourage to five officials on foreign trips and 15 for local trips.
“In the directive issued today (yesterday), President Tinubu also ordered all ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies to have at most five security personnel attached to them.
“The security team will comprise four police officers and one DSS officer.
“No additional security personnel will be assigned.
“President Tinubu instructed the National Security Adviser to engage with the military, paramilitary and security agencies to determine a suitable reduction in their vehicle and security personnel deployment.
“All affected officials are expected to comply with these new measures immediately, underscoring the urgency and seriousness of these changes.”
