President Bola Tinubu has banned ministers, agency heads, and other government officials from embarking on publicly funded foreign trips.

The ban will last three months in the first instance and will take effect on April 1, 2024.

According to Punch, the directive was contained in a letter dated March 12, 2024, signed by the Chief of Staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, and addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

The letter indicating the ban read in part, “Mr President has concerns about the rising cost of travel expenses borne by Ministries, Department and Agencies of Government as well as the growing need for cabinet members and heads of MDAs to focus on their respective mandates for effective service delivery.

“Considering the current economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management, I am writing to communicate Mr Presideni’s directive to place a temporary ban on all public funded international trips for all Federal Government officials at all levels, for an initial period of three months from Ist April 2024.”

According to the letter, the ban aimed to reduce governance costs.

It added, “This temporary measure is aimed at cost reduction in governance and intended as a cost-saving measure without compromising government functions.”

Tinubu added that government officials who intend to go on any publicly funded foreign trip must seek and get presidential approval at least two weeks before embarking on it, which must be ‘deemed absolutely necessary’.

It added, “All government officials who intend to go on any public funded international trips must seek and obtain Presidential approval at least two weeks prior to embarking on any such trip, which must be deemed absolutely necessary.”