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Buhari cuts estacode of ministers, gives other restrictions

Ezekiel Johnson
Ezekiel Johnson
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Buhari

The estacode for ministers has been reduced by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of the measures to save cost of governance and instill financial discipline.

“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.”

The reduction in the estacode was made public on Wednesday by Willie Bassey, the Director of Information to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha.

The directive approved by the president is also to ensure that ministers, director-generals and other top government officials submit travel plans for clearance.

Except otherwise approved by the president, ministers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers and directors in the ministry are not allowed to embark on foreign trips more than two times in a quarter.

The directive is also to the effect that the size of a delegation headed by a delegation should not exceed four.

Also, all public funded travels (local and foreign) must be strictly for official purposes with documentary evidence.

The statement reads in part:  “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.

“Henceforth, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are required to submit their Yearly Travel Plans 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 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.

“All foreign travels must be for highly essential statutory engagements that are beneficial to the interest of the country. 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.”

While ministers, permanent secretaries, special advisers, senior special assistants to the president, chairmen of extra-ministerial departments and chief executive officers of parastatals can, as entitled, continue to fly business class, other public officers are to travel on economy class.

It would be recalled that the president recently vowed to reduce the cost of governance, stressing that corruption would be wiped out wherever there is any.

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