The All Progressives Congress, APC, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the immediate implementation of sweeping cost saving measures aimed at instilling financial discipline and prudence, particularly on government trips.
The party said the directive will not only foster legislative-executive relations but also ensure that budget passage is speedy and returned to the January-December cycle.
This is another fulfilment of the president’s election promise to cut the costs of governance, curb leakages, end impunity and ensure adherence to the rule of law by all departments of government, said the party in a statement by Mallam Lanre Isaa-Onilu, NationalPublicity Secretary.
“To list a few of the approved measures to instil financial discipline and prudence on government trips, all public funded trips must be strictly for official purposes and must be backed with documented evidence.
“The classes of tickets approved for government officials on official trips have been clearly spelt out. In effect, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants to the President, Chairmen of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals are allowed to fly Business Class. Other categories of Public Officers are to travel on Economy Class.
“Government will no longer fund extended stays. Duration of official trips is limited to only the number of days of the event as contained in the supporting documents to qualify for public funding.
“Our public resources are now being rightly deployed to address our national infrastructure needs, social investments and other initiatives that directly benefits the people.
It said the APC administration remains resolute in fulfilling its promises to the people of Nigeria.
