Nigerians have expressed appreciation for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to reduce the size of his entourage for domestic and international travels by 60%, lauding the move as a decisive step to curb excessive travel spending.
The austerity measures apply not only to the President but also to federal ministries, departments, agencies, the Office of the Vice President, and the wives of both the President and Vice President.
Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, announced the cost-cutting exercise, revealing specific limits on the number of individuals allowed to accompany officials on trips. On international travels, the President and Vice President are limited to 20 individuals, while the First Lady and the Vice President’s wife are restricted to five. Domestic trips will have corresponding limits of 25, 10, 15, and 10 for the President, First Lady, Vice President, and Vice President’s wife, respectively.
The directive also emphasizes that security outfits within states will handle the protective detail for these officials during their travels within those states.
Nigerians took to social media to commend President Tinubu for leading by example and promoting prudence in government spending. The move comes five weeks after the administration faced criticism for sponsoring a large delegation to the United Nations’ COP28 Climate Change Summit in Dubai.
The directive has been hailed for its potential impact on reducing recurrent expenditure and fostering fiscal responsibility. Some users urged governors and other officials to emulate President Tinubu’s example, advocating for similar measures at the state level. Overall, the response indicates public support for efforts to curb wasteful spending and promote accountability in government affairs.
