The Buhari administration has rolled out a new travelling policy for public servants travelling abroad, the high point of which is the restriction of the payment of travelling allowance otherwise known as estacode for the exact days such officers spent at the event.
Consequently, travel days would no longer attract estacode.
Also, the new policy stipulates the categories of government officials and the class of air tickets they are entitled to while on such official assignments.
A statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, signed by Willie Bassey read in part; “travel days will no longer attract payment of Estacode Allowances as duration of official trips shall be limited to only the number of days of the event, as contained in the supporting documents to qualify for public funding”
Also, cabinet ministers, directors-general and other top government officials were directed to tender their yearly travel itinerary for required meetings and engagements to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) or that of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
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Furthermore, Minister’s delegation was reduced to a maximum of four key persons per trip, while other delegations below the ministerial level would not exceed three key persons.
The memo also specified the air tickets various categories of government officials are entitled to travel with. Cabinet members , permanent secretaries ,special advisers, senior special assistants to the President, chairmen of extra-ministerial departments and chief executive officers of corporations are entitled to business class ticket, while the other public officers fly economy class.
SEE FULL PRESS RELEASE AS TWEETED BY @NGRPRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE
FISCAL PRUDENCE: @NigeriaGov APPROVES ADDITIONAL COST SAVING MEASURES#Thread
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
In a bid to curb leakages and ensure efficiency in the management of Govt resources, President @MBuhari has approved for immediate implementation, additional cost saving measures aimed at instilling financial discipline and prudence, particularly, in the area of official travels.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
Henceforth, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are required to submit their Yearly Travel Plans for statutory meetings & 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…
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
… for express clearance within the first quarter of the fiscal year, before implementation. They are further required to make their presentation using the existing template and also secure approvals on specific travels as contained in the plan, from the appropriate quarters.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
On Nature & Frequency of Travels,all public funded travels (local & foreign), must be strictly for official purposes backed with documentary evidence. In this regard, all foreign travels must be for highly essential statutory engagements that are beneficial to Nigeria’s interest.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
Except with the express approval of Mr. President; Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Chairmen of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Chief Executive Officers and Directors are restricted to not more than two (2) foreign travels in a quarter.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
Also, when a Minister is at the head of an official delegation, the size of such delegation shall not exceed 4 including the relevant Director, Schedule Officer and 1 Aide of the Minister. Every other delegation below ministerial level shall be restricted to a maximum of 3.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
For Class of Air Travels, the President has approved that Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants to the President, Chairmen of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals who are entitled, …
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
… continue to fly Business Class while other categories of Public Officers are to travel on Economy Class.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
Also, travel days will no longer attract payment of Estacode Allowances as duration of official trips shall be limited to only the number of days of the event as contained in the supporting documents to qualify for public funding.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
The Auditor-General of the Federation has been directed to treat all expenditures that contravene these guidelines as ineligible.
Willie Bassey
Director Information
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 16, 2019
It will be recalled that President Buhari approved this new directive less than one week he barred his ministers from foreign travels until the budget defence at the National Assembly is concluded.
APC COMMENDS BUHARI FOR HIS NEW DIRECTIVE
The ruling party -the All Progressives Congress (APC) has lauded President Buhari for the new directive approved for the immediate implementation of measures to reduce the cost of his administration.
According to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, he said it was in fulfilment of the president’s election campaign promise to cut the cost of governance ,end impunity and to abide by the rule of law in all government establishments.
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“Clearly, the era of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government when ministers and other senior government appointees splashed our commonwealth on private jet trips, first-class tickets and limousines to ferry families and cronies around are over”, the APC spokesman noted.
Isa-Onilu said that savings from this new government policy would be channeled to the development of infrastructure.
